ARCHITECTURE: PARKS & RECREATION

MIAMI BEACH CONCESSION STANDS & RESTROOM FACILITIES
South Beach, Florida

Designed to be located at the heads of the major east/west streets where they intersect historic Miami Beach, these restroom and concession facilities were designed through the Arts in Public Places Committees requirements to expend funds at these locations. C3TS was extremely proud to have been selected, together with Tran Construction, to provide these much needed facilities on a design-build basis. Each street head (21st, 35th, 46th, and 64th) will act as location markers and be each visually distinctive from the other in order to promote way-finding along the beach as well as provide a level of whimsy to what has been traditionally a very dour program.

CLAUDE PEPPER PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER
North Miami, Florida

C3TS was selected to design this multi-purpose youth center which includes a gymnasium, classrooms, youth training center, computer labs, and health center. Services also included parking lot drainage, water main, pump station, and general site development. Sustainable design and construction methods are being used throughout the park for environmental benefits. C3TS used an efficient lighting strategy for reduced energy costs, the integration of natural and artificial lighting sources with occupancy sensors. We specified recycled content materials and those with a cradle to cradle certification such as the roof and building metal cladding.  We are obtaining all the Water Efficiency credits including the Innovative Design Credit by reducing the potable water use in the building and irrigation via design of a cistern and collection of rainwater.  The site has designated parking for Fuel Efficient Vehicle and Van pools and the parking material specified assists with site drainage and a Solar Reflective Index that qualifies the project in reducing the Heat Island effect.  The site lights have a two-step balast which provide ½ of the footcandles for after hours use while complying with the required lighting levels.  This project is currently in process of Silver LEED certification.

GRAPELAND PARK
Miami, Florida

C3TS was selected to do the planning and architectural design for a 10-acre, urban park as part of the area renewal and airport improvement district.

This project took an underutilized and poorly planned tournament complex and transformed it into a regional, needs-based park which will include a water theme park, an 800-seat community activity and banquet facility, as well as a state-of-the-art baseball tournament complex.

The needs for access and parking encroachment into the surrounding areas were identified as one of the principal complaints by the stakeholders as this program was developed. As such, the design of Grapeland Park, located adjacent to a densely populated urban neighborhood, is able to accommodate both multi-modal transportation access and all required parking.

WALKER PARK COMMUNITY CENTER AND LIBRARY
Hialeah, Florida

C3TS’ professional design staff has worked on a number of community service centers throughout South Florida. Such experience includes the Walker Park Community Service Center and Library for the City of Hialeah. As part of their continuing services contract, the City of Hialeah commissioned C3TS to provide architecture and engineering design and construction for a 25,000 sq. ft. community center, library, daycare center, outdoor play areas and classrooms for adults and children alike. 

The vernacular design of this building and courtyard style will help create the image the City of Hialeah wishes to project and will increase the value of the surrounding properties.  This project includes modifications of site design to allow for future growth of either soccer fields or baseball fields for the community and a possible fire/police station.

PIERCE PARK
Coral Gables, Florida

In an effort to recognize the City of Coral Gable’s vision to provide the children of its community with playgrounds and recreation facilities, C3TS was retained to provide A/E Services for the renovation of Pierce Park.

To meet the needs of the community, the design of the unique triangular shape park promotes unity by providing multiple spaces for congregating and open play fields. The main entrance feature to the site incorporates a vernacular style pavilion which reflects the architectural context of the surrounding neighborhood.

As you progress into the site, open green spaces along with pools of sand fill playgrounds in geometric shapes enfold around a grand oak tree located at the heart of the site.

PHILLIPS PARK
Coral Gables, Florida

Phillips Park is on a three acre site in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the City of Coral Gables.  C3TS was commissioned by the City to rehabilitate the existing park and design a new entrance feature, as well as a new 900 square-foot picnic shelter, restroom facility, tot lot and dugout shelters for the new baseball field. 

A new basketball court was also incorporated in the site as well as a jogging path around the park and the tennis courts were resurfaced.  The new entrance feature provides a low wall that serves as a seating area with tube steel post that vary in size creating a playful curved element facing the new tot lot.  The gates are self closing and provide security for the young children playing inside the park. 

C.B. SMITH PARK
Pembroke Pines, Florida

As a consultant for “Paradise Cove” at C.B. Smith Park in Broward County, C3TS prepared the master plan and engineering construction documents for a $6.35 million aquatic theme park.

The project, which serves approximately 1,500 people per day, consisted of two large water activity playgrounds, a lazy river (inner tube) ride, and the rehabilitation of the existing fiberglass flume ride.

The project also involved a new remote concession building as well as renovation of the existing bathhouse. Construction for this water park was completed within nine months on a fast-tracked schedule.

T.Y. PARK CASTAWAY ISLAND
Pembroke Pines, Florida

C3TS’ architectural and engineering design staff has had in-depth, extensive experience as the lead designers on a multitude of Design-Build parks and recreation projects throughout the South Florida area.

Such experience includes the design of T.Y. Park Castaway Island for the Broward County Parks & Recreation Department. This project included the design and construction management services for an interactive water play theme park which included utilities, drainage and concession areas.

JACOBS AQUATIC CENTER
Key Largo, Florida

The Upper Keys Community Pool Association selected C3TS as part of a design/build team to provide architectural and engineering services for the Jacobs’ Aquatic Center. The project includes a pirate ship play pool structure; zero edge teaching pool and an eight lane Myrtha competition pool and diving well. The building houses ADA accessible toilets and locker facilities, offices, snack bar, elevator, aerobic workout rooms and meeting rooms.

DEERFIELD BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL PARK
Deerfield Beach, Florida

C3TS developed a Master plan for this five acre site located adjacent to Deerfield Beach Middle School. Full Architectural and Engineering services were provided for the project.

The site included a competitive pool center, several softball fields as well as a football and soccer field. Additionally, four buildings were designed to support the sport activities which are an entrance pavilion, pool building, two-story baseball pavilion and two-story football / soccer pavilion. Construction cost for this project is approximately $5 million.

LAUDERDALE LAKES COMMUNITY CENTER
Lauderdale Lakes, Florida

The Community Center provides a facility for multiple learning and recreational activities which led to the construction of a 6,000 square-foot activity building and a 2,000 square foot athletic center that share an outdoor landscaped plaza.  Both structures are dynamically connected by a covered walk that acts as the “main gateway” to the surrounding 11 acres of green park.

The project was challenged by a limited budget that led to the creation of two functional buildings with minimal ornamentation that work as a “machine”, such as the work of Le Corbusier’s “machine a habiter”.  The buildings’ interiors expose the structural elements,  finishes and materials to express and establish an “industrial feel”.  In contrast, the buildings’ exterior skin was treated with an attractive stone surfacing to achieve a warm feeling while harmonizing with the rest of the park greenery.

BUCKY DENT COMMUNITY CENTER
Hialeah, Florida

Hialeah’s fundamental program requirement for the community center was to provide a structure with a central control point for all of the building’s varied uses. A reception / checkout counter was centrally positioned at the junction between the building’s different volumes, connecting the playing courts, community, recreation and locker rooms. A skylight, reflecting the counter plan, was provided to accent this portion of the building. The skylight plays a prominent role as the center’s “beacon” especially in the evenings when light emanates from within.

The 15,000 square-foot building is the last of three buildings in a multi-use park. The community center was placed at a slight angle within the property in order to connect it to other buildings within the park. This alignment creates views, both within the site, and the surroundings, which promotes an overall sense of geometric harmony within the park.

SOUTHRIDGE COMMUNITY AND AQUATIC CENTER
Miramar, Florida

This new complex includes three Little League baseball fields, one mixed-use field for adult softball/pony baseball/softball, and one football/soccer field with a perimeter running track. Along with the fields, C3TS designed a two-story baseball pavilion which offers a snack bar/concession area and an announcer’s booth and a one-story football pavilion which provides players with restrooms, weigh-in room, storage and observation deck.

The site also features a 50-meter competitive swimming pool with zero-depth entry at one point, where school children will receive weekly swimming lessons. Also included in the pool building are restrooms, locker rooms, offices, and a meeting room.

JORGE MAS CANOSA COMMUNITY CENTER
Miami, Florida

Since this 7,000 square-foot building is the most prominent in a multi-use park, available space for its development was limited. The Community Center was placed at a slight angle within the property in order to accent its role as access point & edge of the park.

One of the client’s fundamental requirements for the Jorge Mas Canosa Community Center was to provide a unified structure which would serve as the entrance to the park and its activities within and beyond.

A linear lobby open to both the front and rear was centrally positioned at the junction between the building’s different volumes. A clearstory, reflecting the open area of the lobby was provided to accent this central portion of the building.

The lower enclosing wall around the building was the final program element. It created a semi-enclosed secure play court for the day care facility. Alignment, light & spacial volume play a prominent role to create form. In the evenings, when light emanates from within, the Jorge Mas Canosa Community Center can be observed from almost anywhere on the site, as well as the surrounding community.