Parks & Recreation Facility at McKinley Field
Designing around what can't be replaced
Sometimes, the biggest constraints lead to the best solutions — like creating Grandview Heights’ first new public facility in 30 years without removing a single tree.
When the City of Grandview Heights needed to replace its aging recreation facility, it came to us because of our ongoing relationship with its parks department, having already helped develop the City’s design language. The community stayed actively involved throughout the process, from program planning meetings to voting on the final color palette.
Mature trees filled the site, including specimens that families had donated over decades, becoming the project’s defining feature. We designed around every single tree, which meant solving complex puzzles around topography, drainage, and aging utilities. Elevating the building became both a practical solution for site drainage and an architectural statement that gives the center its distinctive front-porch presence.
The building creates 5,000 square feet of flexible community space that works for everyone from seniors to teenagers. The large activity room opens completely to the park through floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, essentially doubling the usable space in good weather. A central kitchen anchors community gatherings, while eighteen different program rooms provide the flexibility modern recreation departments need. Covered patios extend programming outdoors year-round, and the natural wood materials create warmth without sacrificing contemporary appeal.
What others are saying
- CityGrandview Heights, Ohio
- Client City of Grandview
- Completion Date 2025
- Size of Project 5,000 SF