City redesigns sports complex again to trim costs

Samantha Newburn

Architects presented the Effingham City Council with a revamped design for the proposed Effingham Sports and Recreation Center Tuesday.

Greg Grunloh and Rusty Walker, both from Holabird and Root, had plans to equip the 50,000-square-foot building with two floors. The first floor will include three competitive size basketball courts, an eight-lane swimming pool, offices and locker rooms. The second will have a fitness center, an elevated three-lane track and a spectator area for the swimming pool.

The building can be broken down into two sections. The first section will include the pool room, which will take up half of the first floor and most of the second floor, where spectator seating will be provided.

The second part will include the three basketball courts on the first floor, while the elevated track will be on the second floor. Runners will be able to look down over a 42-inch rail and see the games on the courts. The fitness center will sit on the second floor at the center and on the other side of the spectator seating.

The site plan also includes playground areas surrounding the three fields outside and circular parking around the building. Grunloh said the circular parking will help allow people to use the sidewalk outside to walk or jog.

Surrounding the entire lot will be trees and other shrubbery to help keep out the noise and pollution from the nearby interstate. The playing fields and large green space also will act as a buffer between the building and interstate.

The building will have a “bump-out,” or a piece on the second floor that will act as an overhang at the front entrance, but will also be used as part of the fitness center. Treadmills or stationary bikes will be set in the bump-out so those exercising can enjoy the outside view.

Walker said very little glass was used on the building to help keep cost down, as well as to keep out natural light that creates glare. Glare was a big concern for swimmers and those who would use the basketball courts. The small amount of glass also will allow for less air conditioning or heating costs for the building.

Glass will be used on the second floor at the running track so walkers and joggers can see outside, as well as letting outside viewers to see activity going on in the building. Glass also will be used on the north side of the pool room.

Those using the track can look down and see the games happening on the basketball courts, which also can be used for volleyball. The three courts can be separated and can even be used as batting cages.

All materials for the building consist of concrete, metal and glass. Walker said the design scheme was kept to a minimum to only include the necessities for a sports complex.

“We wanted to get as much activity into the building as possible, but keep it as cheap as possible,” he said.

An elevator will be installed at the front entrance, and the pool and track will be handicap accessible.

Walker said the site and building uses “passive supervision.” The open concept is designed to allow for sports complex staff, as well as parents, to know where someone is at all times.

Grunloh stressed the complex is not just for sports. Because of the circular parking lot, it could be used for events that bring in vendors or kiosks, such as a film festival or trade shows. The complex also will have a multipurpose room.

The original design was sent back to be revamped in a scaled down version when the original estimate for building the facility came in millions of dollars over what the council expected to spend.

According to the contract with the city, the design work and construction documents were to be completed for competitive bidding by this month. This will be the second time bids have been accepted for the sports complex.

Grunloh said this design was driven by an effort to keep the construction costs under $10 million, although the estimated cost will not be definite until after a budget consultant reviews the design.

Grunloh is hoping the design can be approved by December and bids can be taken in January for construction to begin in spring.

All bids submitted in June 2008 were rejected when the lowest bid was $16.8 million — much higher than the $10 million limit the city had set as a goal.

According to Economic and Development Consultant Hank Stephens, Holabird and Root wanted to present the new design to the council before presenting the site plan to the Effingham Plan Commission on Dec. 8.

The city did not take any action regarding the proposed complex.

Samantha Newburn may be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or samantha.newburn@effinghamdailynews.com.

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