At the heart of the Rio Vista District Park in Peoria, Ariz., sits the Rio Vista Recreation Center. The $10 million, 51,376-square-foot (4,773-m2) multigenerational center’s shape embraces its surroundings, evoking its environment and the neighboring lake. A dramatic entry porch with bridges and cantilevered decks invites visitors to experience not only what happens inside the center but to venture outside to discover what surprises it may hold.
Situated on an existing peninsula at the entry of the park’s, the recreation center is the focal point that everything radiates from and the design ties in with the park’s concept. “The recreation center was designed to have a 360-degree façade and to pull people into the building,” said Michael Rosso, project architect at Tempe, Ariz.-based ARCHITEKTON. “Since this project is situated on the site so that 270 degrees of the building is surrounded by lake and the remaining façade faces the main park entrance, there was no typical back of house and all façades had to be designed. This was also the ‘jewel’ of the park and had to sparkle throughout the course of the day and night.”
The two-story facility combines masonry, structural steel and concrete to create its dynamic form, while its simple yet rich exterior finishes include azure glass, perforated CORTEN steel and metal roofing. Minimally applied interior finishes, including hand-placed sandstone, ground concrete and perforated steel ceilings, create a comfortable and elegant interior.
By stacking the building on two floors, the architects were able to fit all the city’s programs into the condensed site. The recreation center features a game room, racquetball courts, climbing wall, gymnasium, aerobics studio, walking/ jogging track, dance studio, fitness equipment, nursery, multipurpose room, conference rooms, classrooms, locker rooms, kitchen and more.
According to Rosso, the metal panels are a raw material that age with the building. “We decided to use metal panels on the exterior because it is a maintenance-free material and we could afford to skin all sides of the building with it to accomplish the 360- degree façade. We used it on the interior for the continuity between inside and out and to blur that distinction.”
Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Louisville, Ky., supplied 3,000 square feet
(279 m2) of 22-gauge solid nonperforated ribbed COR-TEN steel panels and 15,500 square feet (1,440 m2) of 18-gauge perforated ribbed COR-TEN steel panels. United States Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, supplied the COR-TEN steel, and Diamond Manufacturing, Wyoming, Pa., perforated the panels. The perforated panels were used on the large front signage wall to allow people to see what is going on inside while they drive by, and the nonperforated panels were used on the soffits and as an exterior skin for some of the building’s walls.
The Design Award judges were impressed with the use of metals and how the metals fit in with the surrounding environment. Ron McKenzie said: “Striking use of natural-patina COR-TEN steel in a sculptural form reflect the natural setting and provides contrast to the other building materials. The perforated panels form a rich accent to the two-story structure.”
“The structural form created by the perforated COR-TEN steel and unperforated COR-TEN steel panels with the masonry, structural steel and concrete complement the architectural setting,” McKenzie continued. “The rich exterior finishes and the use of bridges and cantilevered decks formed an interesting and captivating recreation center that invites you to enter.”
“Broadcasting the building’s identity as part of the skin is a very imaginative way to incorporate identity into the architecture,” said Design Award judge Tony Consentino.
The project featured a variety of additional metal products, including structural steel fabricated from Maricopa Steel, Apache Junction, Ariz.; approximately 10,000 square feet (929 m2) of the Arcadia curtainwall system from Aluglas LLC, Chandler, Ariz.; a variety of interior ceiling and wall panels from Alpro Acoustical Systems, Bossier City, La.; and approximately 27,000 square feet
(2,508 m2) of Zee-Lock metal roof panels from Berridge Manufacturing Co., San Antonio. The metal roof panels were rollformed on-site by Total Metals, Chandler, Ariz.
Chosen for its longevity, the natural rust of the COR-TEN steel matches the existing park color palette. “Striking and memorable use of metal building materials deftly integrated into the environment,” noted Design Award judge Bruce Lynch. “Metal features add texture and depth to the structure and complement the other building materials and the natural features of the land.”
Rio Vista Recreation Center, Peoria, Ariz.
Building owner: City of Peoria
Architect: ARCHITEKTON, Tempe, Ariz.,
COR-TEN steel: United States Steel Corp., Pittsburgh,
Design-build contractor: Haydon Building Corp., Phoenix
Structural steel distributor: Smith Pipe and Steel, Phoenix
Structural steel fabricator: Maricopa Steel, Apache Junction, Ariz.
Metal wall and roof panel installer: Total Metals, Chandler, Ariz.
Interior ceiling and wall panel supplier and installer: TP Acoustics, Phoenix, (602) 269-6213
Metal wall panels: Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Louisville, Ky.
Perforator: Diamond Perforated Metals Inc., Visalia, Calif.,
Ceiling and wall panels: Alpro Acoustical Systems, a division of Gordon Inc., Bossier City, La.
Curtainwall: Aluglas LLC, Chandler, Ariz., (480) 752-0523
Metal roof panels: Berridge Manufacturing Co., San Antonio
