BOSTON – Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm with offices in Boston, Houston and Phoenix, announced the groundbreaking for the new 7,500 SF Timber Lane Community Center in Spring, Texas.
Working in conjunction with landscape architecture firm, Clark Condon Associates, the new facility will be a gateway into nature, directly connecting the Timber Lane suburban residential community to the ponds, natural areas, and wooded trails of Cypress Creek Park. The project is expected to be completed in early 2020.
The new building brings together Timber Lane and Harris County residents, and aggregates park maintenance, office, constable, nature center, senior center, and community center functions into a single location. Areas for community gathering, education, and celebration are woven throughout the space, encouraging community connection. It will feature a 204-seat assembly space as well as smaller meeting spaces available for use by the community. Located along Cypress Creek outside the Houston flood plain, the facility can serve as an emergency management center in the event of a natural disaster with generator-ready capabilities and impact-resistant window glazing.
“Our new community center will be a welcoming spot along the park system, encouraging people to interact with nature,” said Bud Gessel, director of Timber Lane Utility District. “In light of the devastation Hurricane Harvey left behind, we wanted to create a safe haven for our residents and took this opportunity to create a temporary shelter. Shepley Bulfinch and Clark Condon Associates have gone beyond our expectations, and we are excited for the day we can welcome our first visitors.”
The landscape design concept for the Timber Lane Community Center incorporates nature and the existing forested site to create an inviting gathering place for the community. Tucked in among the trees, the new community center will provide both a physical and visual connection to existing trails, walkways and natural amenities including an adjacent pond that is home to numerous species of birds. Native and adaptive plantings will further enhance the site to provide food and shelter for wildlife. Through the use of natural materials like wood and stone, the color palette creates a warm, nature-like feel that flows seamlessly from outside the building arrival, through the building and back outside to the covered patio and existing nature beyond. Outdoor gathering spaces allow for activities to extend beyond the building and immerse users into the environment. Additionally, wayfinding signage will be installed to direct visitors to the site from an extensive existing trail system. Clark Condon Associates took the natural cues from the environment and the building’s location to create outdoor spaces that mimic nature and provide a welcoming experience for each visitor.
The project team includes:
- Landscape Architect: Clark Condon Associates
- GC: A&M Contractors
- Civil Engineer: Van De Wiele & Vogler
- Structural Engineer: Matrix Structural Engineers
- MEP Engineer: E&C Engineers
- Technology Specialist: 4b Technology Group.
