Inspired by the Long Island Pine Barrens, an ecologically significant ecosystem of eastern Long Island New York, where this project is located, the Health & Wellness Center sits on the edge of the Suffolk County Community College campus like a stand of pine trees.
The custom precast concrete and glass façade is modeled after abstract representations of pine bark which express the importance of the natural environment in establishing the unique location and identity of this campus. Irregular panel widths with idiosyncratic reveals and appurtenances formed out of concrete create a textured surface that is inspired by bark of pines that surround the site. This biophilic association to the natural landscape is appropriately assigned to a building whose purpose is health and well-being through exercise, healthy living and relaxation.
The site for the Health and Wellness Center extends the existing campus plan to the south by creating a new recreation quad. It will house a future multi-purpose sports field adjacent to the Health & Wellness Center. The Center is a 45,000 sq ft recreation facility that contains teaching spaces for the Department of Nursing and Physical Education, as well as, a natatorium, gymnasium, aerobics room, fitness center and rock-climbing wall.
The façade expression, interior daylighting, materials and colors is a biophilic design response to comfortably fit this large facility in an important and delicate landscape to meet the clients brief for a site-specific sympathetic response to its pine barren location.
All the information about how to enter the 2020 WAN Awards is here.
We are very happy to offer support so please don’t hesitate to email Georgia, WAN Awards Event Coordinator with any questions at Georgia.Baily@haymarket.com.
Last year more than 40 countries took part in the WAN Awards with strong showings from Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. And we saw some truly outstanding projects, take a look at the winners from last year here.