A Relaxed, Unpretentious Attitude
An innovative, energetic, and adventurous rec center takes shape at the request of residents
By Brian Carlson
Photos: © Dror Baldinger
In an area of the city rich with history, Austin’s Montopolis neighborhood is taking a step into the future—while carrying on the traditions of the past—with the new Montopolis Recreation and Community Center.
Montopolis was established in the early 1800s as a small town separate from the city of Austin. It was named for its location atop a hill, and, due to this location, almost became the capital of the Republic of Texas. In the early 20th century, the town began experiencing a huge immigration of Mexicans, which has continued to the present. The town was fully annexed by Austin in the 1970s, and has long been a vibrant neighborhood, abundant with culture and a sense of community.
More Space Needed
The original recreation center that was demolished as part of the new project was first owned by the neighboring Dolores Catholic Church. Purchased by the city in 1973, the center served as a gathering place for the community for nearly 50 years, and the boxing club that used the facility was—and still is—a source of pride for the neighborhood.
In the intervening years, and as the community and surrounding city grew, the need became clear for an updated center with more space, additional amenities, improved energy efficiency, and new services. The new 33,000-square-foot facility is the culmination of a long journey for Montopolis that reflects the diverse neighborhood and its residents. It is also a successful example of the benefits of partnerships, as demonstrated by the city of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and Austin Public Health (APH), which came together to sponsor the project and share the building, creating a facility that serves both the body and mind.
The recreation center includes:
A gymnasium designed for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball
An indoor, elevated running track at the perimeter of the gym
An exercise room with boxing ring, speed bags, free weights, and cardio machines
Group exercise rooms
Multi-purpose rooms, including space for teens and community meetings
A kitchen for community events such as the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration and for the preparation and distribution of after-school snacks.
The community center includes:
A health clinic
A food pantry
Counseling facilities
Multi-purpose rooms, including a computer lab.
Public Input Welcome
In addition to the partnership of city departments, the community was engaged as an active participant in the design process from the outset, even before the architects began drawing. McKinney York Architects worked with community members and the city to ensure the needs, desires, and values of the neighborhood were embodied in the design for the new facility.
The design team gathered input through design charrettes, community workshops, and surveys—all of which were conducted in English and Spanish. In one of the interactive exercises, intended to establish the feeling of the facility, the stakeholders assembled poster boards with adjectives and accompanying images of architectural examples that were reflective of those adjectives. Community members then voted on which adjectives should describe their new community center. In the end, the consensus was the new center should feel easy-going, balanced, and respectful, while also providing an innovative, energetic, and adventurous atmosphere. These adjectives were key to ensuring the space felt inclusive and welcoming. The design team revisited these adjectives in future meetings with the community, and they served as guideposts during the process.
Design Details
McKinney York and the design team drew inspiration from both the values and heritage of this East Austin area. The building itself has a relaxed, unpretentious attitude, as it was designed to complement, not overwhelm, the neighborhood fabric. Two entrances were designed to recognize both pedestrian and vehicular access. Coming into either entrance, guests are welcomed at a large reception desk made of reclaimed gym flooring, accented with bright colors and playful lighting. This area acts as a hub for the lobby and shared meeting rooms between PARD and APH. Above the lobby, a bridge creates a physical connection between the two departments. The boxing arena can be seen from the lobby as well, highlighting the important legacy the new recreation center is carrying forward.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer transparency and connectedness to the surrounding environment, and dancing window louvers around the entry serve a dual purpose in representing activity and movement, while providing solar relief on the east façade. To add to the innovative and clean look, a sandblasted tilt wall with custom patterning warms the building exterior.
Typically used for warehouse and industrial buildings, the use of the tilt wall proved to be an economical choice, helping to keep the project on budget and providing an energy-efficient envelope. The tilt wall has a continuous layer of insulation sandwiched between two layers of concrete. The architects left the finish exposed on the interior, providing a durable finish perfect for a rec center.
The city has a program titled Art in Public Places that allocates 1 percent of architectural-project budgets to public art. This facility boasts five public-art pieces, some of which were produced by artists from the neighborhood. In addition, the program took photographs of the original recreation center to commemorate the structure. Those photographs are framed and hung throughout the new building to recognize the community’s roots.
Above and Beyond The Call For Sustainability
Finally, in addition to being a high-performing facility for the community, the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center has become a high-performing facility for the environment. Some of the sustainable features include rooftop photovoltaic panels, a high-efficiency mechanical system, recycled materials including old bleachers and gym flooring, and a rain garden filled with native grasses and wildflowers for treatment of water run-off. The city requires all its new facilities to achieve a sustainability certification of at least LEED Silver. This facility went beyond the threshold and achieved LEED Gold.
This year, the project won both an AIA Design Award with a Commendation for Affordable Sustainability and an Austin Impact Award from ULI for Best Public Space, and has been lauded by community members, city staff, and city council. The facility is poised to serve as the hub of one of Austin’s oldest, most vibrant neighborhoods for another 50 years.
Brian Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a Partner at McKinney York Architects in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit https://mckinneyyork.com/.