Design Philosophy and Prioritization of Program Elements
Youngstown State University intends for this project to bring the School’s recreation and wellness facilities up to the same standards as those of other similarly sized schools in the region. This project should add to the fabric of Youngstown student life activities and enhance the campus culture.
First and foremost, this is to be a recreation center for personal student fitness use, even to the exclusion of intramurals. In the future, if student demand does not warrant exclusion, faculty, staff and perhaps alumni, may be permitted access to the recreation facilities by purchasing memberships. However, the program for the facility will reflect solely the desires of the student population.
The recreation center is envisioned as a place of vibrant activity, encouraging students to develop personal fitness habits that will last a lifetime. As such, it is imperative that the facility be inviting and dynamic and at the same time remain accessible and un-intimidating for all levels of skill. Entry areas must be well-defined and extend an invitation to enter and use the facility. The use of a central circulation system should be employed to provide visibility and cross views of available activities. The interior circulation spaces should be wide enough to include seating areas where students can gather to socialize or watch the activities in the adjoining activity spaces. The exterior walls should include sufficient glass to permit those passing by to see the activities inside.
The current enclosed program is based on the priorities of the students. However, due to budget limitations, certain elements, such as the pool, will be planned for future phases.
Sited at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Spring Street, this building should serve as a gateway to the University. The site is currently a faculty parking lot, and while it would be advantageous to keep some parking on the site, it is agreed that the project should not be compromised to maintain those spaces. To be a gateway, the building should be sited such that it is visually prominent to vehicular traffic on Fifth Avenue. At the same time, the recreation center should maintain a physical connection to the Kilcawley Center. While the University may move the location of the bookstore in the future, for the current time, there will need to be revisions made to that facility to allow passage from the recreation center to the student union and for a new service entry.
Currently, Spring Street serves only as access to the faculty parking lot and bookstore service dock. As part of this project, the road will be revised to a pedestrian way, as it now is from the entrance to the basketball arena. This new spine shall become a major entry route for commuter students who park across the street as well as other students accessing the new facility and the Kilcawley Center. This new spine should also embrace the existing veterans’ memorial in front of the facility. In order to provide access from the new pedestrian spine to the quadrangle, an interior passageway through the lobby should extend all the way through the facility, with views into the activity spaces.
Personal Safety for the students is an essential element of the project. While the lobby and offices are accessible to the public, the rest of the facility should only be accessed with proper identification from a single control point. The creation of hidden areas within the building and on the site is to be avoided and exterior lighting along the outside of the building should be adequate to light pathways on both the pedestrian walkway and quadrangle side.
Document courtesy of Ellerbe Becket and Hanahan/Strolle & Associates