The Eastway Regional Recreation Center is the first of three new community recreation facilities to serve Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Through a series of engagement meetings with local residents the design team prioritized both a sense of energy and excitement that needed to be expressive in the design as well as a clear connection to the history and cultural relevance of the Charlotte region.

The exterior of the building is angular and dynamic. Inside, there is a sense of optimism to the design—bold colors, patterns, and textures anchor the palette and recall the region’s history in textile manufacturing. The entry volume stretches from one side of the building to the other, organizing the main program elements with communal and social spaces like a teaching kitchen, nature center, senior center and sound mixing room on one side with active spaces like the fitness zone, gym and pool spaces on the other. The completed project emphasizes cultural and generational inclusion ensuring that all visitors feel welcome and have a clear sense of how to engage with the program in a comfortable, accessible way.

Congratulations to the team and to all the other winning projects! We are honored to have been recognized amongst all the incredible entries.