http://architectcolorado.net/ Essenza Architecture - Blog RSS Feed 2.0 en-us Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:45:41 GMT Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:45:41 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/userfiles/1322/images/Essenza%2D2024%2E04%2E11%2Epng http://architectcolorado.net/ http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23223/Westminster-Swim---Fitness-Wins-2024-Columbine-Award-for-Design-Renovation blog Recognition by the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association Essenza Architecture is thrilled to announce that the Westminster Swim & Fitness Center, operated by the City of Westminster's Parks, Recreation and Libraries, has been honored with the 2024 Columbine Award for Renovated Facility Design by the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA)! The Columbine Awards recognize outstanding achievements in parks and recreation throughout the state; CPRA presents the awards at the annual association conference and trade show, which took place in Keystone this year. Overview: A Vision Realized Through Collaboration After nearly five decades of serving the Westminster community, the Westminster Swim & Fitness Center has undergone a transformative $6 million renovation — reimagined to meet the evolving needs of residents while honoring its legacy as a hub for wellness, recreation, and connection. Over the past 3.5 years, the City of Westminster partnered with Essenza Architecture, Mark Young Construction, and a passionate team of City leaders and staff to bring this vision to life. With enthusiastic support from local residents, the center has been modernized into an inclusive, accessible, and future-ready facility — earning the prestigious 2024 Columbine Award for Facility Renovation from the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association. This revitalized space reflects more than just upgraded finishes — it represents a collective commitment to creating safer, more dynamic environments for public health, leisure, and community engagement. Enhancements focused on accessibility, guest and staff safety, energy efficiency, and flexible programming that better supports the city's growing population. "Throughout the project, the team demonstrated an unwavering dedication to working within our budget and offering creative and practical designs," said Dana Kester, Facilities & Projects Coordinator for the City of Westminster. Alongside Kira Kloser, Recreation Facilities Superintendent, and Deb Larson, Recreation Supervisor, Kester collaborated closely with the Essenza Architecture team to ensure the final design met the City's goals, schedule, and budget — without compromising quality or vision. The successful renovation was celebrated at a grand re-opening in mid-September, welcoming the community back into a reinvigorated space that balances modern design with timeless functionality. Key Design Enhancements and Architectural Features The transformation of the Westminster Swim & Fitness Center is a testament to the power of collaboration and intentional design. Through a strong partnership between the City of Westminster, Essenza Architecture, and Mark Young Construction, the project team worked hand-in-hand to deliver cost-effective, high-impact solutions that modernized the facility from the inside out. The reimagined center now features: State-of-the-art weight and cardio rooms equipped with new selectorized machines, free weights, and functional training zones Modern rubber athletic flooring that enhances performance and safety A spacious community room for group programs and special events Upgraded lighting and daylighting strategies that create a vibrant, naturally illuminated interior Contemporary finishes and materials that provide a clean, cohesive, and inviting aesthetic Innovative design moves replaced outdated elements and reallocated space for greater functionality. Old railings were replaced with open cable railings, providing clear sightlines to the pool and multiple levels—enhancing both safety and visual connection. Previously underutilized spaces, like racquetball courts, were reimagined as expanded fitness areas featuring acoustic paneling, artificial LED lighting, and natural daylight, resulting in open, energizing workout environments. A new second-floor infill introduced a multi-purpose meeting room with a kitchenette, offering flexible rental space for community events, staff meetings, and team functions. One of the center's most unique additions is a color-changing training room with white and ambient lighting that overlooks the pool, creating a memorable atmosphere for special events and workshops. Accessibility improvements were another central focus of the renovation. The lobby was relocated to the main level, and automatic sliding doors now connect the building to both the north and south parking lots. Inside, the expanded lobby includes a redesigned front desk, casual seating areas for games and conversation, and improved guest circulation. A new elevator ensures access to all floors, supporting a more inclusive and equitable experience for every visitor. Collaborative Efforts and Project Team The success of the Westminster Swim & Fitness Center renovation is rooted in the shared vision and deep collaboration between public leaders, designers, engineers, and builders. "Bringing this facility back to its full potential and creating more program spaces was such a rewarding experience," said Christa Plaza, President of Essenza Architecture. "Working with the Parks and Recreation and facilities staff early on in a master plan exercise allowed us to maximize opportunities—like moving the entry to the main floor, creating open fitness spaces, and adding the second-floor community room. Our teamwork with the City of Westminster and the CMGC team at Mark Young Construction allowed us to tackle problem-solving in a positive way." From the early planning phases through construction, each partner played a critical role in ensuring the project's success — creatively addressing design challenges, budget constraints, and evolving community needs. Project Team Architect: Essenza Architecture General Contractor (CMGC): Mark Young Construction Landscape Architect: Norris Design Civil Engineering: MPD Engineering Mechanical & Plumbing Engineering: The Ballard Group Electrical Engineering: AE Design Group Structural Engineering: Martin|Martin Engineering Fitness Equipment Procurement: FitLogistix Together, this multidisciplinary team delivered a thoughtful and future-ready renovation — designed to support inclusive recreation, improved facility programming, and community wellness for years to come. Tue, 05 Nov 2024 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23223/Westminster-Swim---Fitness-Wins-2024-Columbine-Award-for-Design-Renovation http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23225/Colorado-Parks-and-Recreation-Association-2024-Annual-Conference blog Thank you, Colorado Parks and Recreation (CPRA), for a fantastic conference and tradeshow! So many laughs, so many connections! A few of our favorite moments: 1. City of Westminster Swim and Fitness Center receiving the Columbine Award for Facility Design Renovation! 2. Lafayette break dancing! 3. Connecting with clients and colleagues with a pop-up bar by the fire in the hotel lobby. 4. Schmoozapalooza 5. The first snow fall Essenza Architecture is a sponsor of the CPRA annual conference and is dedicated to supporting recreational professionals who provide quality of life to communities across Colorado. CPRA was established in 1951 as the trade association for parks and recreation professionals in Colorado. CPRA has been providing continuing education, professional networking and resources since that time. Tue, 05 Nov 2024 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23225/Colorado-Parks-and-Recreation-Association-2024-Annual-Conference http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23020/Aquatic-Transformation blog Scott Carpenter Park and Pool is a community park located in Boulder, Colorado, that provides a wide variety of recreational facilities, including swimming pools, a skate park, an open turf field, diamond fields, and a space-themed playground in honor of the park's namesake, astronaut, and aquanaut Scott Carpenter, a former Boulder resident. Over the past several years, the pool facilities have undergone a major renovation and transformation that represents what was desired most by the community, user groups, and stakeholders. The design team was tasked with creating an iconic, state-of-the-art facility that promotes inclusiveness, accessibility, sustainability, and durability while honoring and nurturing the existing mature trees and established an astronaut theme. We transformed and repurposed the existing building into a low-maintenance, durable facility with a warm mountain feel that reflects the Flatiron formations in the foothills of Boulder. The renovated facility opened in the summer of 2020 and included a new 50-meter outdoor pool, a double waterslide tower, an 8,000 square foot recreation pool that includes a diving board, jumping platform, drop slide, climbing wall, lazy river, zero depth entry, and an outer-space themed water play feature. In addition to the pools, there is a 2,000-square-foot splash pad featuring a 20-foot-tall rocket ship that ties back to the existing historic rocket ship playground feature. Colorado has only a handful of outdoor 50-meter pools, and this feature certainly makes Scott Carpenter Park a destination for competitive swimmers. The additional fun water amenities provide engaging activities for people of all ages. The heavily renovated bathhouse features durable materials alongside the existing preserved historic brick, an accessible design for all ages, and an undulating curved blue roof mimicking water waves to welcome visitors. Outdoor design features include shade structures that are scattered throughout the deck in wave-like forms to provide much-needed cover from the Colorado sun. Shower towers are outside each locker room to encourage rinsing off before jumping into the pools. Low retaining walls and grass landscaping are provided in the patron lounging area. The facility offers ample bicycle parking and enlarges paths on all sides of the property, encouraging multi-modal transportation and accommodating increased traffic, an important goal for Boulder. During COVID, the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation team has been adapting the use of the facility in innovative ways. The 50-meter pool is being used in the 25-meter direction so that more individual lanes are open, and swimmers can be socially distanced, allowing the facility to stay open. At other times of the day, the 50-meter pool is sectioned off into pods where families can swim together. After several years of design collaboration and community outreach aimed to meet the community's aquatic and park needs, the renovated facility is a top recreation destination for the City of Boulder and surrounding communities. Mon, 30 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23020/Aquatic-Transformation http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23021/Dedication-to-Recreation-and-Sunrise-Hikes-Through-CPRA blog It is a special time of year -- the annual convergence of recreation professionals at Colorado Park's Recreation Association's annual conference. As we packed up the Essenza-branded exercise bands, mugs, and fanny packs, our excitement grew. With the tradeshow booth secure in its case, we made our way to Snowmass to spend 48 hours connecting with clients, colleagues, and friends. It is an energizing event filled with learning opportunities, new connections, karaoke crooners, and, this year, a very special sunrise hike. Thank you, fabulous CPRA staff, for thoughtfully planning your event at the height of fall color season! Where Recreation and Architecture Meet The CPRA conference allows us to connect with others passionate about improving quality of life through recreation. As a self-proclaimed gym rat, you will often find me at my favorite local municipal recreation center. Early in my career, I was fortunate to hold the the head lifeguard at Arizona State University's Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Kristen, my conference partner and business development lead, has been in a dance class of some kind for 44 years and holds a B.S. in Parks and Recreation Administration. We love talking about all things recreation and helping municipalities realize their goals. It is this personal relationship to municipal recreation that fuels our commitment to supporting the CPRA community. Recreational Facility Renovations With its largest attendance ever, the conversation during CPRA's "Schmoozapalooza" was robust. We heard a lot of good news about projects underway, and others are being looked at for the future. The most common challenge is funding. Now that the long-felt shell shock of construction inflation has settled in a bit for municipalities, many are adjusting their game plans to fulfill the communities' expressed desires for additional recreation facilities or improve the existing ones. All options are on the table--private-public partnerships, IGAs, grants, inventive fundraising campaigns, and tax initiatives. It will be an exciting time to watch the ballot results this year and in 2024. We wish all the communities asking for voter support best wishes for "Yes" outcomes! You have our gratitude CPRA community! See you in Keystone 2024! Mon, 30 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23021/Dedication-to-Recreation-and-Sunrise-Hikes-Through-CPRA http://architectcolorado.net/blog/22897/Aquatic-Recreation-in-the-West---Dispel-Water-Use-Myths blog Aquatic recreation in the West given the long-term drought, what is the future of pools for our communities? While the recent rain and snow across the West have temporarily eased extreme conditions in some areas, municipalities are heading indicators and implementing water conservation policies. For example, in 2022, Aurora, Colorado, implemented a new water conservation ordinance prohibiting nonfunctional cool weather turf in new developments. In addition, at the State level, the Colorado Water Conservation Board is developing a Turf Replacement Program to incentivize the voluntary replacement of nonessential irrigated turf. While these restrictions have not directly impacted our ability to fill swimming pools, our communities are wondering, are we being responsible? As an architecture firm that designs pools and aquatic facilities, we take responsibility for working with parks and recreation professionals to dispel myths about water use for aquatic recreation. For example, at the 2022 Colorado Parks and Recreation Association annual conference in Breckenridge, four colleagues and I led a panel discussion on the state of aquatic recreation in the West. Carol Cosby, Director of Parks and Recreation, Pueblo West Metro District, discussed navigating the impacts of water restrictions while planning to build a new aquatic center. In 2022, the Metro District underwent a water moratorium on new taps putting a spotlight on water consumption. As a result, the community voiced concerns over the amount of water needed to operate a new aquatic center. While the moratorium is lifted, fundraising for the facility remains underway, and distributing facts about the pool's water requirements is critical to the project's success. Carol is leading the effort to ensure the community knows there are far wiser water conservation options than limiting public pool access. Swimming is essential to public health; to pull the plug (all puns intended) is irresponsible for public health. Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional death of children aged 1-4 years, and public swimming facilities play a crucial role in preventing drownings. While only 56% of Americans have the five basic swimming skills, aquatics rank high on the community "wish" surveys (Swimming Pools in the US - Industry Data, Trends, Stats | IBISWorld). It is typical for parks and recreation swimming programs to reach capacity.  Presenting the facts and relatable comparisons about water usage is vital to garnering support. One of the myths to dispel is that pools require too much water. The truth is that with proper maintenance and operations, a pool consumes considerably less water annually than is commonly perceived, far less than some other recreation amenities. For example: A natural turf field in Colorado requires about 2.6 million gallons. A 150-acre golf course takes 200 million gallons. A typical 25-yard lap pool uses around 500,000 gallons. For municipalities preparing to take the idea of a new pool to a public vote, a few best practices have been proven to increase the odds of passing a funding measure. During the CPRA presentation, panelists Scott Hickman, Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District, Connor Riley, P.E., Studio Director, Kevin Post, Principal, Counsilman-Hunsaker, discussed pool water conservation best practices and community outreach. According to Counsilman-Hunsaker, pool projects that include community outreach average a 50% chance of moving forward;  those without have only a 30% chance. Plan for 6 to 12 months of outreach before going to voters with a funding vote and focus on presenting why it is worth it. Talk, talk, talk! Get the work out to garner support. Information stations at high-traffic user groups locations, like, schools, recreation facilities, and grocery stores, staffed with informed and enthusiastic volunteers, quickly inform passersby about the benefits of voting "yes." Distributing concise talking points to be used in social media posts, local advertising, printed materials, and “town hall” meetings. Take the opportunity to dispel myths about irresponsible water usage. State exactly how much $ it will cost per household and the benefits that will be realized the list is lengthy and proven. Stakeholders are eager to engage in focus groups and provide a platform to understand concerns and wishes. Gain the backing of community leaders by inviting them to participate. Create customized community engagement tools to help bridge what is realistic while allowing creative solutions to develop. For more information about pool design and to obtain pool water consumption facts, contact Essenza Architecture.  Fri, 27 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/22897/Aquatic-Recreation-in-the-West---Dispel-Water-Use-Myths http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23019/This-July--Take-Time-to-Recreate-at-the-Pool- blog Celebrate Park and Recreation month by visiting your local pool! July is dedicated to recognizing the importance of recreation in our lives. We applaud the vital role parks and recreation professionals play in providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities! National Recreation and Park Association #wherecommunitygrows Pool and Swimming Facts • Safety, recreation, a reprieve from the heat, and athletics! • Approx. 309,000 public swimming pools in the U.S. • Only 56% of Americans have the 5 basic swimming skills • Summer municipal swimming lessons are consistently filled • Swimming = most popular recreational activity for children and teens ages 7-17 • Aquatics rank high on community "wish" surveys • Bonus fact! Essenza founder and Principal Christa Plaza, was once the head lifeguard at Arizona State University's Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex Source: Swimming Pools in the US - Industry Data, Trends, Stats | IBISWorld Wed, 25 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23019/This-July--Take-Time-to-Recreate-at-the-Pool- http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23018/Athletic-Business--Scott-Carpenter-Park-and-Pool blog Originally published in Athletic Business: https://www.athleticbusiness.com/project-galleries/aquatic-design-portfolio/mrzzaXBYP1/scott-carpenter-park- and-pool-boulder-co Scott Carpenter Park and Pool is a community park that provides a wide variety of recreational facilities including swimming pools, a skate park, an open turf field, diamond fields and a space-themed playground in honor of the park's namesake and former Boulder resident, astronaut Scott Carpenter. Over the past several years the pool facilities have undergone a major renovation and transformation into what was desired most by the community, user groups and stakeholders. The design team was tasked with creating an iconic, state-of-the-art facility that promotes inclusiveness, accessibility, sustainability and durability, while honoring and nurturing the existing mature trees and established astronaut theme. The renovated facility includes a new 50-meter outdoor pool, a double waterslide tower, an 8,000-square-foot recreation pool that includes a diving board, a jumping platform, a drop slide, a climbing wall, a lazy river, a zero-depth entry, a space-themed water play feature and a 2,000-square-foot splash pad featuring a 20-foot-tall rocket ship. The heavily renovated bathhouse features durable materials alongside the existing preserved historic brick, an accessible design for all ages, and an undulating curved blue roof mimicking water waves to welcome visitors. Construction Cost: $14.8 million Area / Square Feet: 7,500 (bathhouse) 18 acres (site) Occupancy Date: August 2020 Tue, 24 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/23018/Athletic-Business--Scott-Carpenter-Park-and-Pool http://architectcolorado.net/blog/22983/Eagle-Pointe-Recreation-Center blog The popular recreation center provides a wide variety of health, fitness, creative programs, activities and classes to the Commerce City community and underwent major renovations to most of the 67,000sf facility, including a 6,000sf addition. With the goal of design innovation while melding the existing and the new, Eagle Pointe Recreation Center was a design challenge. Lighting Design & Electrical Engineering Design Almost all areas were updated with new lighting, lighting controls, electrical, and technology changes. It was a puzzle to combine new lighting with old and continue the use of the building"s existing controls and power systems, but the end result is seamless. In addition to new lighting controls throughout the entire space that helped with occupancy and dimming, some fun RGB lighting and controls were incorporated in group exercise classes. The reception desk also included a master shut off for all lighting in the rec center anytime during the day, and an automatic shut off after closing. Audio / Video Design To accommodate a large list of owner requirements upgrading the technology designs, such as the large video wall in the cardio area, we coordinated closely between designers and recreation center management teams. Extra care during design and construction was required to integrate the new Audio / Video technology with the lighting. AE Design"s design goals for the Cardio Room revolved completely around the guest experience. In order to provide a customize able experience to guests, we calculated and specified a projector and emissive TV combination in the room, careful to match the brightness of the different displays. To give guests individual control, sound can be accessed via phone app digitally and privately accessing sound of each of the display screens. During group exercise activities, such as movie night utilizing the large projection screen, column array speakers can be utilized to help immerse the group. Overall, the project is not your typical recreation center. We made strategic upgrades, utilized lighting in creative ways, and selected fixtures, helping to highlight a unique gem for the community. By: AE Design  |  http://www.aedesign-inc.com/eagle-pointe Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/22983/Eagle-Pointe-Recreation-Center http://architectcolorado.net/blog/21269/Designing-with-Pre-Manufactured-Metal-Buildings--PEMB- blog Even though this is a common form of building construction, many architects, contractors, and owners have never been involved in a project that uses one. It may be that people think of them as unattractive or lacking character. However, because these buildings go up relatively quickly and require fewer sub-contractors on site. PEMB buildings can be a cost-effective solution for many projects. PEMBs are an economical solution for structures for many reasons: 1) As mentioned above they go up relatively quickly. 2) Thick cavity walls and super saver insulation systems allow for a superior high performing envelope. 3) The number of trades is reduced, thus reducing overall shell costs, making it very economical to build. 4) Finally, the building code allows for the steel used in the buildings to be light and efficient. This may reduce the type of materials that can be used as finishes. However, that can be overcome with quality and creative architectural design. Sun, 07 Jun 2020 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/21269/Designing-with-Pre-Manufactured-Metal-Buildings--PEMB- http://architectcolorado.net/blog/19784/How-Indoor-Lighting-Helps-Craft-Rec-Facility-Environments blog As lighting consultant and educator Thomas Farin notes, "Light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form or texture." One could make the argument for adding "purpose" to that list. At the Eagle Pointe Recreation Center in Commerce City, Colorado, different lighting approaches were strategically employed to make each program area more conducive to a particular activity. Thu, 25 Jul 2019 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/19784/How-Indoor-Lighting-Helps-Craft-Rec-Facility-Environments http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17223/The-Great-Outdoors-Water-Park blog The Great Outdoor Waterpark opened in May of 2018 in Lafayette, Colorado. The park features a leisure pool, two water slides, and a lazy river with a design that brings the outdoor feel of the mountains to the waterpark. Elements of nature education are set throughout the park--native plants with descriptive plaques, and tracks from animals native to the area were stamped in the concrete. The project also incorporates highly efficient equipment and all LED lighting. The bathhouse itself is also representative of the great outdoors. It has a timber roof and is reflective of many mining buildings. Tue, 10 Oct 2017 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17223/The-Great-Outdoors-Water-Park http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17221/Design-Development blog With a defined set of goals and the overarching idea the process can move forward and become more detailed. This is when materiality is addressed, space is further allocated and building systems, such as electrical and mechanical, are incorporated. The building becomes more analytically defined, and more details overall are considered and explored. As details become more defined, the project is priced to maintain cost goals. This is when the planning department becomes involved and planes are taken to the city for review and approval. As a client, this is when you begin to see what the final project is going to look like. Thu, 08 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17221/Design-Development http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17220/Schematic-Design blog Architecture is a process that takes big picture ideas and concepts and details them until they become a building. The Schematic Design phase is the second step. This step includes defining goals and project requirements with the client, which in turn defines the program of the project at a higher level. This is the point when vision is developed, space is allocated to programs, character features are defined, and site elements are located. Once this big picture is developed then the next phase of design development can begin. Wed, 16 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17220/Schematic-Design http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17219/Programming--Feasibility-and-Conceptual-Design blog As the first step in the architectural process, the information gathered in this phase becomes the first layer in exploring how the building will evolve into its final form. Looking closely at the site and what possibilities it presents for the project is a key piece of being able to move forward towards the client's goals. This is when the big picture is looked at and different ideas are explored at a broad scale. Leading to an initial overall vision, including a program, schedule, and conceptual site/ floor plans. This is also the phase where the architect gathers information from the ownership team to start developing their vision. Wed, 19 Oct 2016 06:00:00 GMT http://architectcolorado.net/blog/17219/Programming--Feasibility-and-Conceptual-Design