Firstenburg Community Center
Vancouver Parks & Recreation District
The Firstenburg Community Center creates an enduring model of environmentally responsible civic architecture while providing a wealth of recreation and community services for this growing community.
Size: 80,000 sf
Location: Vancouver, WA
Stats: LEED Gold
Awards:
2008, AIA Northwest and Pacific Region, Merit Award
2007, OCAPA, Excellence in Concrete – Pervious Paving Award
2007, Athletic Business Magazine, Facility of Merit Award
2007, Washington Recreation & Park Association, Spotlight Award
2007, ASHRAE, Technology Award – First Place
2006, Clark County & City of Vancouver, Community Pride Design Award
2006, AIA Portland, Merit Award
2006, AIA Portland, Sustainable Design Award
A multi-use facility that combines recreational and community spaces with various public services, the project embodies the diverse character of the community, providing convenient access to services, and uniting a variety of users under one roof.
The recreation program includes swim and warm water leisure/therapy pools, a two-court gymnasium, fitness room, aerobics dance studios, and multi-purpose activity spaces.
The community spaces incorporate childcare, a teen lounge and game room, a senior lounge and resource room, and meeting rooms. The multi-use community rooms, together seating up to 350 citizens, address the lack of meeting and gathering spaces in east Vancouver and provide a venue for city council meetings, social dances, performances, neighborhood fairs and community forums.
The presence of a new branch library, also designed by Opsis, reinforces the civic identity of this facility and encourages staff communication between public service areas. Families have the opportunity to visit the site together, using library and community center resources to enjoy a wide scope of recreation and learning activities.
The project has been an overwhelming success for the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Parks & Recreation, continuing to perform well today both operationally and financially.
