PARKS & RECREATION
 Soapstone Natural Area Structures
Larimer County, Colorado
$525,000 · 2008
Client: City of Fort Collins, Colorado Natural Resources Department
Respect for the natural environment was the guiding principle in the design of new visitor amenities for the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, a 19,000-acre open space nestled in the High Plains prairie near the Wyoming border. Structures include an entry station, information kiosks, picnic shelters and an observation pavilion, all carefully sited and constructed to minimize the impact on the site's fragile ecosystems.
Roof forms for all of the structures emulate the sweeping vistas and soft curves of the natural landscape, using pre-weathered steel frames and untreated, riveted steel sheets for roofing panels to create a handcrafted, "ranching vernacular" quality. Many of the structures are built into the landscape with "eroded" sandstone walls to emulate the remnants of ranch building foundations found on the property. Similarly, the stone walls of the kiosks were designed to mimic the many stacked rock cairns throughout the site.
The observatory is sited high above the renowned Lindenmeier archaeological dig site. Its plan is an abstract interpretation of the cubist layout of the original archaeological site, its walls constructed of sandblasted concrete with cast-in archaeological "artifacts" created by artist Robert Tulley.
Professional services included master planning and full architectural and engineering services.
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 Northside Aztlan Community Center
Fort Collins, Colorado
$8,625,500 · 2007
Client: City of Fort Collins Cultural, Library and Recreational Services
The Northside Aztlan Community Center is a 50,000 sq. ft., $7.56 million multipurpose recreation facility that replaces an existing 15,000 sq. ft. recreation center on the same site. Programmed spaces include a 3-court gymnasium with elevated running track, fitness center, aerobics/dance studio, community meeting rooms with catering kitchen, classrooms and computer labs, intergenerational activity room, locker rooms and administrative support spaces. The program required the existing facility to remain open during construction of the new facility, which influenced the siting of the new facility and necessitated an intricate, multi-phased construction process.
The building is located just north of Fort Collins' Old Town Historic District and will be a key component of the proposed "Beet Street" cultural and arts area. Responding to the context of the site, the design is a blend of traditional materials and forms found in turn of the century Old Town buildings and a contemporary interpretation of nearby industrial and mill architecture. Materials include brick, precast concrete, steel, glass and corrugated metal. Interior spaces overlook the soaring 2-story lobby, characterized by the exposed steel structure and daylighted by a 60' long clerestory lantern. Cast concrete and glass medallion panels by Carolyn Braaksma are also incorporated into the masonry facade as a part of the City's Art in Public Places program.
The facility is designed using the U. S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED Green Building Rating System and will achieve a "Silver" certification upon completion. The site is on an abandoned city dump, where open burning of garbage and other debris occurred until the 1960s, qualifying the project as a "brownfields" development. Extensive mitigation was undertaken to control coal tar and methane emissions. Features of the sustainable design include the use of an insulated concrete form (ICF) system for the gymnasium construction; heat-reflective roofing; maximizing the use of recycled and local materials; optimizing water conservation through very low-flow plumbing fixtures; maximizing energy conservation and equipment performance; and creating daylighted spaces throughout the facility with extensive outdoor views.
The project team of Pinkard Construction, Aller · Lingle Architects P.C. (Architect of Record) and Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects won a design/build competition for this project. Professional services included site plan approvals through the City of Fort Collins, as well as full architectural and engineering services.
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 Sandstone Ranch Community Park
Longmont, Colorado
$3,054,000 · 2001
Client: City of Longmont Parks and Recreation Division
Sandstone Ranch is a multi-phased, $15 million development for a new 80-acre community park, part of a 313-acre ranch acquired as a park site and natural area. Phase I structures included new ballfield concessions/restroom buildings, and ballfield seating, dugout and scorer's box structures. Phase 2 facilities included additional playfield concessions/restroom buildings, park shelters, park restrooms buildings, storage/maintenance buildings and renovation of the 1910 sandstone manor house and the original barn, ice house, pump house and silo.
The new park structures are designed to complement the formal planning used in the ballfield and soccer field layouts, with forms that are reminiscent of the agricultural nature of the site. The materials and colors reflect those of the manor house and other original site structures, with the extensive use of native sandstone.
Aller · Lingle · Massey Architects P.C. worked as a consultant to Winston Associates on this project and provided full architectural subconsulting services.
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 Westlands Park
Greenwood Village, Colorado
$981,300 · 2000
Client: City of Greenwood Village Parks and Recreation
Structures were created for Westlands Park, a $6 million, 12-acre community park, that combine with the park landscape design and public art to express the theme of "a park for all seasons". Facilities include park restrooms, pavillions, shelters and elevated platforms, park maintenance and storage, ice hockey support facilities and a universally-accessible, multi-level treehouse structure.
The architectural design was integrated with a variety of custom site features, including two climbing wall sculptures, interactive water features, retaining walls and play areas. The park structures are expressed as contemporary forms in response to the park's Denver Tech Center site. Shelter roof forms open to the park in multiple directions, using exposed structural elements of wood, steel and concrete. Wood and wire mesh details in the elevated bridge railing provide a natural counterpoint to the industrial style of the buildings.
Aller · Lingle · Massey Architects P.C. worked as consultant to Design Concepts on this project, and provided full architectural subconsulting services. The project has been awarded regional AIA and ASLA design awards.
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