PURPOSE

Fallon, a rural town 60 miles east of Reno, Nevada, is a community that was in dire need of a new facility to support the growing demands for adolescent programs. A lot of families in this area have limited time or resources to contribute to the well-being of the children raised here. Understanding that children are the building blocks for a stable future for the community, the city quickly started budgeting and fundraising to make this facility a reality. Due to the limited budget, the final architectural shell was designed as a hybrid of conventional masonry construction and a fabricated metal building.

A COMMUNITY HAVEN

How does a small community achieve a big idea with a small budget? This design focused on creating a place that attracts and entertains the younger generation. Primarily targeting the K-12 age group, the space is planned with multiple activity zones arrayed around a central indoor “community” plaza. This central space feeds into the other areas/room such as the teen center, recreation room, art room, learning center, multipurpose activity room, and a semi-private meeting room. All the while having the administration (located near the entry) in close proximity for support and visual control. The design team saw this as a fun opportunity to treat the central hang-out space as an “outdoor park”, off of which are “storefronts” into each of the other areas noted above. All surfaces played a role in this carefully choreographed activity environment. Floors, walls, and ceilings are “color-blocked” to make for a cohesive experience, yet varied to spawn the imagination and interest of the visitors. The result: a “Kid Centric” environment made up of patterns, words, textures, furnishings, and color come together to ignite an energy that is both inviting and memorable.

BUDGET

Designed during an era of one of the most quickly rising costs of construction, the design team was challenged late into Design Development to step back and create an ultra-simple structure to accommodate the entire original program within budget. Cost escalation was the driver. The solution: Convert the design to a prefabricated metal structure, simplify the form, specify cost-efficient materials and allow the interior architecture to govern the main statement. Through optimization and creative thought, the design team was able to reduce the cost of the project by 30% and deliver to the city of Fallon, all of the spaces without devaluing the outcome.

MATERIALS

The materials were carefully selected to provide aesthetic variation and interest yet maintain economy, durability, and ease of maintenance. Materials include carpet, drywall, paint, and resilient flooring. Color was added within each of those materials for a palette that generated the energy in the design. Tile, wood, and accent lighting is distributed to provide accents and added interest. Glass provided the effective strategy of connecting the spaces and connecting the interior to the exterior and bringing as much daylight in as could be afforded.