This adds to the swim center’s recognition by the California Society of Parks and Recreation, which gave it a 2019 award for Excellence in Facility Design. In the same year, this project was also named Project of the Year for Recreation by the Sacramento Business Times. It also won the Project of the Year in 2020 from the American Public Works Association’s Sacramento Chapter.

The AIA East Bay’s commendation recognizes the project’s impact on advancing the equity of its surrounding communities and supporting its ecosystem. One judge commented that “the site planning, which combines an entry sequence and shading for the bleachers, is very well done. This is a clear, well executed design that builds a variety of community needs in a sensitive manner. The layout of the site zones the uses with an admirable ease, and I like the use of various shade devices, trellis, fabric canopies, trees, to reinforce that zoning while also providing gathering spaces out of the heat of the sun.”

The judges continued: “The community engagement process is great to see and has resulted in a design that is very responsive to the community needs. In a place desperately needing a ‘there,’ this public facility makes bold, open, and inviting gestures to welcome the whole community.”

Congratulations to everyone on the project team who helped make this project a reality.