Center of Attention: Southwest Community Center Portland Parks and Recreation Portland, Oregon - design, construction and aquatic programmes of community centre

Parks & Recreation, Feb, 2001 by J. Douglas Macy

"Above all, we wanted the center to reflect its environment and reinforce the Gabriel Park neighborhood's strong sense of community," said BOORA Architects' Stan Boles, principal-in-charge of the project. "The building's open, transparent design, its materials, and its relationship to its natural setting are each an expression of that desire to make the center accessible to, and reflective of this particular community."

The design team employed several different measures to strengthen this community approach. The building nestles into its surrounding rolling hills and there was a concentrated effort to preserve existing trees on the site. Both building design and landscape improvements responded to the topography of the park, creating a fluid flow of indoor and outdoor spaces. The common use of natural materials such as wood and slate helps blur the distinction between these areas. Intimate outdoor spaces of varying character extend out of the center's indoor areas to further reinforce this connection. Site improvements were also made throughout the park, with upgrades to the trail system, renovation of three ballfields, a new play area and two new wooden bridges.

Buff-colored concrete block, steel, flat roofs and glazing elements define the street or "urban" side of the building, creating a gateway both for the project and for the park. In contrast, the park side of the center recalls the farm buildings of Gabriel Park's agrarian past with wood structures, cedar siding and large dormer porches opening up to the park beyond. These contrasting architectural treatments also help break down the scale of the building.

To assist in fostering a special sense of place, artists were included early on as part of the design team. Fernanda D'Agostino and Valerie Otani, both long-time members of the southwest community neighborhood, developed an artwork theme called the "Stream of Life." This metaphor for the flow of human communities past, present and future links the new center with the established neighborhood and its natural environment.

From the moving water at the entry plaza to the glass panels on the front of the reception desk to the series of wall sculptures documenting life in the park, art is integral to the whole project. Fused glass tiles, made from art submitted by 450 children from nearby schools and based on Gabriel Park nature studies, are included in the pool and locker room area.

The design team's focus on creating a facility that truly serves the needs of its community was successful in the eyes of the majority of its constituents when it opened in June 1999. Many early visitors quickly labeled it beautiful and were eager to start using the center. In its first year of operation, the facility had an attendance of over 399,000, hosted 1,120 parties serving 16,675 people, enjoyed 80% cost recovery, and awarded close to $39,000 in scholarships to low income residents who would not otherwise be able to use the center. The facilities' current staff even includes some of the neighborhood people who were initially against the Gabriel Park location.