Challenge
Serving the community of Northwest Austin since 1979, this recreation center was grappling with continuous maintenance issues and lack of classroom and fitness space to meet the neighborhood’s needs. Popular in the 70s, the earth-covered building needed an update to make a more inviting entrance to the community.
Solution
Drawing upon the building’s original form and materials and understanding the potential of the existing structure, Lawrence Group helped the City of Austin re-envision and breathe new life into this facility. The center underwent an 8,000-square-foot renovation and an 11,000-square-foot expansion with new multipurpose fitness rooms, game room, lobby area, exercise rooms, classroom, raingarden and landscaping. Lawrence Group worked closely with an Art in Public Places artist to incorporate an art piece into the main entry façade. Insulated pre-cast sandwich panels that interlock provide a cost-effective solution for a new exterior/interior wall system. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.
