Design Guide: Recreation Centers Individual Space Criteria January 1976
Space/Unit
8 SF per participant: formal seating
12 SF per participant: table seating
15 SF per participant: dancing or active
(4) Relationships. The central program area
should be encircled by compatible small group
activity areas and should be immediately
accessible to the following: pantry, terrace,
eating areas, the control center, toilet rooms,
and the storage area for tables and chairs.
However, it should be remote or acoustically
separated from noisy activities such as pool,
pingpong, electric games, combo practice and
special interest activities that are disruptive to
the central program area's special functions.
Because of the large numbers of people exiting
from the central program area at one time, the
transitional area at the central program area
should form a lobby-lounge where people can
mill about before going to another activity or
leaving the facility.
(5) Design Considerations. The configura-
tion of the central program area should allow
Figure 4-6 Central Program Area Alternative Use Plans
overlap with other activity areas such as
circulation, lounges, eating, small group activity
enough to allow activities other than large
rooms, platform and terrace. A variety of
group viewing of a presentation.
observation and entrance experiences should be
created by the areas which overlook and project
Spatial variety should be developed through the
into the central program area. These activities
use of stairs, half level partitions, changes in
should be exposed through the use of window
floor level and ceiling height, mezzanines (when
openings, cutouts and railings in place of walls
practical). Ramps are a requirement to facilitate
whenever a solid wall is not required for privacy
the movement of equipment and furnishings as
or acoustical control. In addition, a fireplace
well as handicapped personnel. The changes in
lounge should be provided which is open to the
floor level should also be planned to increase
central program area.
viewing angles and improve sight lines to the
platform and central area.
The central program area should be developed
(6) Technical Requirements
with several potential focal points in addition
(a) Illumination
to a presentation platform; there should be a
central, large area for demonstrations and
Level
Dancing
5 ftc
exhibits. The seating areas should be oriented
Assembly 15 ftc
towards these foci.
30 ftc
General illumination in accord-
The interior of the central program area should
ance with IES Lighting Hand-
be as flexible as possible in order to
book.
accommodate the many activities taking place
Pooled over activity areas
Type
and the variable group size of the participants.
Adjustable track lighting
No one area should be limited by function; for
multi-circuit
instance, the seating area should be flexible
4-9
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