The Summit - Grand Prairie

2975, Esplanade, Grand Prairie, TX, United States

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Grand Prairie Public Safety Building

The Summit - Grand Prairie

2975, Esplanade, Grand Prairie, TX, United States

Firm

Brinkley Sargent Architects

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Sports Center
Government + Health › Community Center

YEAR

2010

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

Oriented to maximize views of the lakes and waterfalls of the new park of which it forms an integral part, the siting of The Summit also presented a solar-orientation challenge. The solution, use of dramatic shade structures, provided an architectural element that unifies the collage aesthetic of the building material palette and the assemblage of the various building forms in the juxtaposed quadrant plan. The lake side opens up dramatically, blurring the line of indoor/outdoor and making a strong distinction between this more private side and the much more subdued façade that is presented to the public. The Summit intentionally avoids calling itself a “senior center,” sidestepping the over-the-hill stigma that pushes athletic middle-agers away from such places. Simultaneously, it must continue to serve the needs of those older seniors, who have different interests and abilities. Thus, The Summit’s design creates two distinct, albeit connected, environments. One houses facilities for more athletically inclined adults, with their own secondary entrance. The other caters to those who prefer their recreation sweat-free, offering craft and game rooms, pottery center, teaching kitchen, 88-seat movie theater, café and ballrooms. Drifting outside and between the two sides allows on to taste the best of both worlds.