This $2.5 million, 20,000-square-foot flexible multi-use facility includes department offices, a large multipurpose room, gymnasium, locker room facilities, shops, and dining services. The Town of Marblehead sought Kleinfelder’s services in site selection, space programming, and design services.

Multi-Use Facility to Meet Needs of Citizens

Intended for the Town of Marblehead Recreation Department and Council on Aging, the multi-use facility would need to be carefully tailored to meet the needs of senior citizens, and fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB). Furthermore, wetlands in the area demanded foresight and expertise in site selection in order to avoid conflicts.

Minimizing the Need of Expensive Excavation

Using test pit explorations, Kleinfelder’s team of geotechnical engineers investigated a rocky, sloping potential site located adjacent to the Marblehead Middle School. Kleinfelder’s architects and engineers developed a building and site design that would minimize the need for expensive ledge excavation adjacent to the sloped portion of the site. The building was carefully positioned between massive ledge outcroppings to avoid conflicts with adjacent wetlands.

Project Results

In addition to fully meeting both ADA and MAAB compliance, Kleinfelder’s reductions in site costs enable the Community Center to be designed and constructed on schedule and within the budget set forth by the Town’s Financial Committee.

Project Details

Location:
Marblehead, Massachusetts

Owner:
Recreation and Parks Commission, Town of Marblehead