Design Guide: Recreation Centers Case Studies January 1976
(1) Informationr Tour & Travel. ITT is used
6-3 19,800 SF CENTER
quite a bit to plan small group trips to urban
a . SITUATION. The fort is located in the
areas and to arrange reduced fare accom-
middle northwestern prairies, approximately
modations at the hotels and will continue to be
150 miles from the nearest city; there are two
highly active in the new Center where the
small towns near the fort which have a sizable
program will be enlarged.
population of retired military personnel. The
military population is 3,975, of which 2,075
(2) Large Group. The predicted attendance
are enlisted personnel, 70% being permanent
range for large group activities will be as
party personnel and 30% advanced training
follows: 200, square dancing; 300, bingo; and
personnel.
400, socials. Large group activities also include
Since the surrounding area offers little in leisure
films, dances, festivals, socials and exhibitions
or tourist facilities, most of the military
with attendance averaging approximately 250
community's recreation activities must be
people.
provided by the installation. Recognizing this
need, the commander is requesting that a new
(3) Small Group. Games, tournaments, and
community center be built to replace the
TV viewing are the most popular and will have
obsolete and over-crowded temporary buildings
about 100 people watching the two local
now in use. This community center will have
channels and about 75 people playing games
facilities for all recreation programs as well as
and cards nightly. Record and tape listening,
post exchange, GED Center, theaters, guest
taping,
and combo practice sessions are
house, and restaurant. The two existing
extremely popular also, with about 30 people
Recreation Centers located in isolated tempo-
anticipated to request ear phones or records
rary buildings will be demolished for new
nightly; informal combo sessions also will occur
housing construction.
nightly and will involve about 10 patrons.
The climate of this area is severe: normal
Enlisted wives have expressed an interest in
temperatures are 86 F in the summer and 0 F
starting sewing and home decorating classes,
in the winter; annual extreme temperatures are
and some people exhibited an interest in
114 F and 45 F. Annual precipitation is
starting ecology and antique collecting classes.
15.15 inches and the annual snowfall is 34.8
Rap sessions were not attempted in the old
inches. The northerly winter winds average
Centers because of a lack of space, but soldiers
about 35 mph and the westerly summer breezes
have indicated that they would be interested; a
about 10 mph. Noon solar angle is 69 on the
poll revealed that 60 people would be
summer solstice and 22 on the winter solstice.
extremely interested and 30 people moderately
interested, so a rap session program is to be
The site is within walking distance of the
initiated in the new Center for about 50 people
training area and is located across the main
three times a week.
traffic artery from the post exchange and movie
theater and east of the GED Center and guest
(4) Special Interest. Groups meet every
house. The site is flat with the road on the
weekday night. The bike riding club (30
western side and no significant features or
members) meets Sunday afternoons; there is a
views.
motorcycle club (50 members); enlisted wives
b. CURRENT USAGE. The Center is used by
club (100 members); ski club (25 members);
300-500 people on weekdays and 750-1,000 on
coin collecting club (30 members); and ecology
weekends; it is open from 1-10 pm daily except
club (30 members). Meeting activities range
Sundays, when it is open from 10 am-10 pm.
from lectures, exhibitions, work on projects,
Because of the lack of other facilities, the
business meetings, and planned outside activ-
Center will be highly used for non-recreational
ities. Since the Special Interest Program is well
events during the morning hours.
organized and attended, it wilI definitely be
included in the new facility and hopefully
c. PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS
expanded.
FOR THE NEW CENTER.
6-7
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