Jim Wiley Community Center,
plaza and CV4 housing
Architect: Tonkin/Hoyn/Lokin Architects
Engineer: KPFF
Owner: King County Housing Authority
ABC members: Lacey Glass, Audio Acoustics, Advanced Fire Protection
Synergy Construction transformed an antiquated community center into a modern, 22,600-square-foot recreation center with renovated gymnasium, new computer labs, homework and adult language classrooms, a commercial kitchen and a career development center for youth and families.
The renovation included innovative architectural, structural and mechanical retrofits along with extensive seismic upgrades. Glass and steel entries were built to create a welcoming atmosphere for the new center.
In addition to the Jim Wiley Center renovation, the $5 million project included constructing a concrete plaza and an eight-unit, two-story affordable housing structure.
Building the plaza required the use of complicated geometrical formulas to create intricate radial formwork with colored concrete, sandblasted concrete slabs and seat walls, inlaid aluminum banding and custom aluminum vent grating. The plaza sits atop a detention vault that treats turbid stormwater before discharging it downstream.
The building earned 3-Star Built Green certification by using solar panels, Marmoleum flooring, steel studs at interior walls and low VOC carpet. All pre-consumer waste was recycled and elements of the original building were reused to save materials and lessen the environmental impact.
Double-paned windows and skylights were added to save energy and increase natural light. A rooftop cupola and operable windows provide controlled natural ventilation to help cool the building.
The building uses a fuel-efficient, gas-fired hydronic heating and ventilation system, along with two point-of-use tankless water heaters.
Drought-tolerant plants surrounding the building and a natural swale drainage system along Seventh Avenue significantly improve the site's ecosystem and stormwater quality.
The recreation center is the focal point of Greenbridge, a Hope VI mixed-income community that will provide 1,000 affordable homes for approximately 3,500 people in White Center when completed in 2012.
The 27,095-hour project was completed over 10 months with zero injuries.