LOCATION
Northglenn, Colorado
OWNER
Northglenn Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
SQUARE FOOTAGE
88,000
CONSTRUCTION COST
$54.6 Million
COMPLETION
2021

BACKGROUND

The City of Northglenn identified a need to renovate or replace its aging recreation center over 20 years ago. After multiple years of brainstorming and testing different ideas with the community, in 2017 the City committed to expanding the project’s scope to create a new vision for the entire civic center campus.

With Landscape Architects, MIG, leading the master plan effort, BRS developed the plans for the future recreation center, the first step in transforming this civic center into a vital and engaging community asset. Plans included not only a new recreation, senior center, theatre, and memorial parkway, but future plans for a new City Hall, a hotel, various retail components and apartments. It will become the hub of the City, supporting a wide variety of activities happening morning to night throughout the year.

Northglenn Recreation Center, Senior Center & Theatre opened in October of 2021. The new community center is nestled between Highway 25 to the west and EB Rains Jr Memorial Park to the east – representing two different paces of life; fast and slow. The design team played upon these dueling, yet complimentary forces throughout the building. For example, on the east side of the center you will experience an energized pace with views of joggers on the track through the two-story lobby. Weights and aerobics studios were strategically placed here as well. This side also features the lap pool, gymnasium and large community event space. On the west side, are the ‘slower paced’ program elements such as a community lounge, leisure pool, massage rooms and fitness balcony—a perfect spot to overlook the park and stretch or cool down.

Other amenities include a water slide with timer, community gathering spaces, ‘wet’ party rooms, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, licensed childcare & preschool, and administrative supports areas. Attached on the south end of the building is a dedicated active adult wing, with a commercial kitchen and event space. Parsons Theatre, a 335-seat theatre designed by Semple Brown, will hold plays, musicals, concerts and more from Northglenn Arts.