VERTICAL TRANSPARENCY UNC UNIVERSITY RECREATION CENTER IN CHARLOTTE, NC A dynamic hub for campus recreation, the 13,750 m² center is the university’s first facility fully dedicated to campus recreation. With roots all the way back in UNC Charlotte’s 2010 master plan, the project is viewed as an essential component in advancing the campus and its ability to serve current and future student populations. CannonDesign together with Jenkins Peer Architects designed the facility to ensure students are front and center. Location Charlotte, NC, USA Client/operator University of North Carolina Architects CannonDesign www.cannondesign.com Jenkins Peer Architects www.jenkinspeer.com Author Colleen McKenna Photos Sean Busher Official Opening January 2020 Construction costs USD 66 million (EUR 54.2 million)
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The University Recreation Center is located in the heart of UNC Charlotte’s campus, near the student union and within the academic corridor to further establish a dynamic student zone. While in the “zone,” students can eat, study, go to the bookstore, drop in for a workout, socialize and more. While the building is located in the best location, the site wasn’t without its own challenges. The site has a dramatic topographic slope of nearly 30° from east to west and sits very near an adjacent student union and parking garage. To master this challenge, the design solution is a vertically stacked building that gracefully encompasses the slope with a main entry near the union’s front door. The two largest program volumes are stacked to the west with a fourcourt gymnasium sitting atop the indoor pool.
The main vertical circulation core bridges the gap between east and west, creating a unique “link” between the major volumes. During programming for the project, there was brief consideration to locate a second building on the same project site, given its prime location. However, the ultimate decision to locate just the University Recreation Center on the site proved best as it allows for future expansion and outdoor programming. Impact of recreation program The University Recreation Center is UNC Charlotte’s first dedicated student recreation building. Prior to its existence, students and recreation services shared spaces with other campus departments. There came a point when the department and student demand simply outgrew sb 3/2021
