Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood, Colorado
Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) desired a new recreation center at its Lakewood Campus to provide students with opportunities for a robust and varied recreational experience, to enhance student health and wellness, and to appeal to prospective students comparing other institutions. The new 35,500 SF Student Recreation Center features a two-court gymnasium for recreation and intramural activities, a weight/cardiovascular area, dance/exercise studios, a climbing and bouldering wall, an outdoor fitness deck, and student meeting and gathering spaces. Improvements were also made to RRCC’s existing multipurpose field, and the existing 3,000 SF RRCC fitness center was converted into flexible, multi-purpose meeting space.
A variety of mechanical/electrical sustainable design strategies were implemented for the new recreation center:
- Low-energy-use indirect evaporative cooling, which allows for easier maintenance than a refrigerant-based system
- Heat wheel to recover energy from exhaust/relief air
- Thermal displacement ventilation system in the fitness areas to provide low-velocity air introduced at the floor level that only conditions the occupied spaces, resulting in lower fan energy use
- Destratification fans in the gym and workout spaces to add comfort in the summer months and to redistribute warm air in the winter months
- Efficient and comfortable radiant heating in open areas
- Occupancy and vacancy sensors throughout the facility
Awards
American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado, Engineering Excellence Awards Competition, Honor Award (2018)