Design Guide: Recreation Centers Planning Considerations January 1976
responsive to innovation and supportive of the
(b) The Recreation Center serves all
on-going activities rather than feature statically
members of the military community; various
predetermined spaces and featureless non-
population groups will have different leisure
determined multipurpose space.
needs. Depending on the population profile of
the installation, the Center may be totally
c. DETERMINING FUNCTIONAL
oriented toward the single person or strongly
REQUIREMENTS
family oriented to include programs for
(1) General. In accordance with AR 415-20,
dependent and retired personnel; all must
the local using service is responsible for
accommodate a diversity of activities that
completing the Project Development Brochure
appeal to various groups of people.
Part 1 (PDB-I). In order that the local needs are
(c) The presence or lack of recreational
communicated to the designers, the planners
activities in nearby civilian communities affects
should develop an outline for inclusion in PDB
the planning of Army Recreation Centers. In
which addresses the five factors listed below;
the former instance, it may either draw people
the purpose of this is to modify or supplement
away from the Center or increase participation
the design guidance herein rather than duplicat-
in special interest activities, such as skiing; in
ing it.
the latter instance it will increase the soldier's
(a) General orientation of the local
dependence on the Center to provide leisure
program which is a description of what is to be
programs.
accomplished by the local recreation program.
(d) The geographic location of an instal-
This orientation should be in the form of
lation will affect the nature of the programs
problem statements or issues which are believed
offered, especially if it is located near a large
to have significant impact on the design of the
urban area; this tends to orient a Center toward
facility.
week night activities.
(b) Description of recreation programs
(3) Local Programs. Another factor that
and services that are offered at the Center and
should be considered in planning the Recrea-
potential future programs.
tion Center is the type and variety of programs
(c) Description of activities that wiII
that occur there, as well as the number of
take place in the Center including how many
participants in these activities. If a Center holds
people are involved (minimum number, average
a few large group activities, it may be advisable
number, maximum number); how often the
to plan the Center with a group of multi-
activities occur; how long they last; what
purpose spaces that can be opened into a larger
equipment and furniture are required; where
space when required. The popularity of a
the activities normally occur; what special
particular activity may require that its space be
features are required to support the activities.
enlarged. Therefore, the planning should evolve
All of this description should be related to
around the recreation program of that partic-
specific issues defined in the general orienta-
ular installation. However, this does not mean
tion.
that new programs should not be considered or
that the recreation program will remain the
(d) Description of the relationships
same and not change.
between activities, such as which activities can
happen in the same space; which activities
(4) Flexibility. Each facility should be
interfere with others and should be separated;
planned to allow considerable flexibility in
what the requirements for visual control are.
meeting the changing leisure needs of the
(e) Establishment of priorities should
soldiers. Needs change as tastes and preferences
be developed at this point, since it is likely that
change (e.g., dancing style); as new programs
are made available (ITT); and as technological
the proposed recreation program cannot be
advances are made (e.g., electronic games, rear
achieved within the economic and construction
projection TV). Although not alI changes can
parameters of the project; the using agency
be predicted, a successful facility should be
should develop priorities for each activity that
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