miami spring community center & after disaster shelter

This landmark Design/Build project for the City of Miami Springs was a 35,000 sq. ft., multi-story,tilt-up building with an adjacent parking lot. The building was designed & constructed to withstand category five hurricanes and to serve as an disaster shelter to house the neighboring people. Additionally, the new community center was built with dual indoor basketball courts, an indoor jogging track, a black box style theater with grid lighting, a multipurpose room, a game room, an exercise room, and support offices.

The challenge on this project was that the city required the existing gymnasium to be used until the new building was erected (as there were planned basketball games and summer camps). We were able to achieve this requirement constructing the new community center and later demolishing the existing building and constructing a new parking lot in its place. Throughout the entire project patron safety was at the highest level. The job entailed full site development, including the demolition of the existing 20,000 sq. ft. recreational center, and a 12” water line of 1,200 LF through the existing residential neighborhood. The building also had a bi-fuel backup generator with full capacity in order to provide full power in the event of a disaster. Although the actual building was not LEED certified the RFP did require the use of many sustainable components and system, including a full HVAC energy management system, lighting controls, paints and flooring with low VOC’s, low flow plumbing fixtures, and FSC certified wood doors and toilet partitions. The project was turned over on time and on budget and definitely considered a gem for the City of Miami Springs.