Anyone who follows recreational and athletic facilities will tell you that this segment of the market is growing at a phenomenal rate. In Massachusetts alone, there are 76 new and expanding athletic facilities either under construction or on the drawing board, according to industry news sources. Nationwide, there are 3,834 such facilities in various stages of development. And this is just the beginning.

Because of demographic, lifestyle and technological changes, more growth is anticipated in recreational facilities across the board, from schools, colleges and universities to cities, towns and neighborhood parks and facilities. New facilities rapidly are being built and older facilities need upgrades to accommodate the growing interest in wellness and healthy living at all ages.

There are numerous segments of the recreational market – urban entertainment centers, athletic and sports facilities, swimming pools and other large event areas, and the needs of one sector may vary significantly from the next. One theme that is common throughout all of these segments is the present demand for sustainable design, improved indoor environments and energy efficiency. Due to high energy costs and growing awareness of environmental issues such as global warming, both occupants/users and developers of these facilities have become more conscious of these issues and have incorporated them in the design of their facilities. Operators, too, are increasingly realizing that going green not only makes good business sense, but also helps create a loyal following among their customers and users.

In recent years, one of the areas to see significant expansion of recreational facilities has been on academic campuses across the country. In addition to embracing sustainable design in order to lower energy consumption and operating costs, academic institutions are incorporating other elements in the design and development of their athletic facilities. For many schools, athletic facilities are the largest buildings on campus. Making these buildings energy-efficient is not only environmentally sound, but also more practical financially.

New trends in academic admissions and student behaviors have facilitated an even greater emphasis on the role of and need for athletic centers within an institutional setting, including:

• Athletic facilities are becoming social and community centers, designed to attract not only athletes, but also the entire campus community – faculty, staff and students;

• Schools and universities are supporting wellness education programs and encouraging healthy lifestyles;

• Exercise is being promoted as a healthy means to reduce stress, especially in the high-pressure world of academics; and

• First impressions count during the admissions process and athletic centers have become an obvious indicator of the overall quality of an institution’s facilities. Prospective-student decision-making often hinges on the variety and condition of a school’s athletic facilities.

Setting the Standard

One project incorporating all of these elements is the St. Paul’s School Athletic and Fitness Center (AFC) in Concord, N.H. Designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge and set on a traditional preparatory school’s campus, the AFC has become a meeting place for students and staff and an integral part of the official admissions tour.

Last year, the 153,400-square-foot facility achieved another milestone by receiving Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. According to the USGBC, it is one of only three buildings in New Hampshire to achieve LEED certification. Nationwide, there are approximately 600 LEED-certified buildings.

The USGBC is the nation’s leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, federal and local agencies and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

In addition to being a green building, the new facility at St. Paul’s teaches students and faculty about ecological responsibility and demonstrates the importance of the building’s ability to positively impact the environment.

The AFC includes two separate gyms: a varsity gym that seats 460 and a junior varsity gym that seats 175. Both gymnasia are configured for volleyball competition and practice. Additionally, the facility includes an eight-lane swimming pool, fitness and training spaces, a wrestling room, home and visiting locker rooms, a large multipurpose room for wrestling and aerobics and three indoor tennis courts. A field house with a turf field, jogging track and climbing wall complete the facility. The AFC’s facilities also provide the school community with an ideal environment for meeting and socializing.

During the design phase of the project, ARC incorporated a host of strategies and technologies to conserve energy and produce an environmentally sound and efficient finished building. To accomplish this, the design solution utilized recycled and locally manufactured materials whenever possible; minimized water consumption with water-conserving plumbing fixtures; reduced energy load by incorporating natural lighting, high-performance heating/cooling equipment and energy recovery ventilators (ERV); improved indoor air quality with natural ventilation; and incorporated outside views to maximize the presence of the surrounding areas. A portion of the site also was set aside for open space, while the rest was restored with native vegetation.

“This is definitely something to be proud of, a true collaborative effort between the architects, engineers, builders and school officials,” said Paul Lachance, associate director for facilities planning and construction at St. Paul’s. “Being recognized with this LEED certification will hopefully serve as a great example to other schools, businesses and the community in general, and help demonstrate the importance of environmentally sound design and construction.”

Despite major expansion and renovation efforts by many schools, students across the country still feel that their recreation and fitness needs are not being fully met. As more students make enrollment decisions based on the recreational and athletic amenities an educational institution offers, we are likely to see more demand for innovative design solutions and state-of-the-art recreational facilities.