Northern Regional Recreation Center

The Northern Regional Recreation Center was a collaborative initiative for the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville, North Carolina to create a new community recreation center for the Northern Mecklenburg County region. This 83,000 square foot, two-story, structural steel, brick, metal and wood composite panel building is situated on a 47-acre site adjacent to the local greenway for biking, walking, and jogging between all three towns. This amenity-rich community asset features eight basketball courts with elevated walking track above, two indoor pools (competition and leisure with slide and lazy river), multiple fitness areas, an education center, community meeting rooms, dedicated senior center, youth spaces, childcare center, food service, offices, an outdoor playground, and pavilions. Architectural details include 25-foot concrete columns and glue lam beams with metal cross bracing along the primary street-facing façade. In addition, a local artist was commissioned to bring the element of public art to the project. The artistic presentation called “Crop Rotations” can be seen nightly at the perforated metal silo which references the agrarian history of the region and also houses the corkscrew waterslide from the leisure pool. LED lighting with intriguing color and patterns oscillating the silo create a focal point of interest to the campus. A colorful, playful mural was also painted at the main entrance to the building.