When the Park District of Oak Park originally decided to renovate versus build a new Ridgeland Common Recreational Complex, I was disappointed and thought it was a mistake. All I could envision was the dreary, bleak, crowded spaces in the dated 1962 structure.
The reasoning behind the renovation was simple: The pool and long-span structure were in good condition and if retained that would keep the project on budget.
But following months of planning, demolition, construction and finishing, the recreational complex has been completed, and there is much to be proud of here.
Dramatically transformed through the skillful hands of architect Don McKay, Principal at Nagel Hartray, the park district has completed a substantial asset with a Silver LEEDS rating. McKay lives in Oak Park and is best known for his design of the Public Library.
The handsome structure is mammoth in scale yet intimate in the series of rooms and details that define the well planned center. A buff colored iron-spot brick in a Prairie School pattern was selected to recall the adjacent High School. Three entrances serve the facility as opposed to one in the original plan.
The main portal at the northwest corner is marked by modern red letters attached to the fascia. McKay reasons that bright red is a clue to way-finding throughout, employed as signage and control at access points. Off to the right is the second entry for the teams to access the locker rooms and the new artificial turf playing fields to the west. To the left is the drop-off and pickup driveway that relates to the aquatics entrance. All very logically designed to handle the mass of customers anticipated.
An architect’s greatest pleasure is to see for the first time a completed building filled with people. I had the pleasure to walk through the sequence of rooms with Don. As we proceeded, he was pleasantly interrupted by throngs of well-wishers complimenting the architect of the day.
I am pleased to report all the spaces are bright with natural light, fresh with color and substantial with quality materials. The sparkling terrazzo floor in the lobby contains interesting floor patterns with curving shapes representing compulsory skating patterns and mirror chips symbolic of ice.
The dramatic volumetric lobby contains a gable end of glass exposing the entrance and lobby to the skating rink. This is a great place to hang out and watch the action without the freezing temperature. The ceiling is clad in natural Cedar planks as a warm counterpoint. The lobby is completed with a series of modern geometric upholstered benches.
The expanded ice arena is now official-sized (85 x 200 feet) and ADA-compliant throughout. The old Kalwall skylights are gone, replaced by glass. The wood bleachers face to the west overlooking colorful skaters below. Natural light and views are accomplished via a monumental gable window opening to the sunset vistas. The original laminated beams have been restored and stained to unify the lobby ceiling and natural wood throughout the complex.
Don said the extensive use of natural cedar was meant to suggest a public relationship with village hall by Harry Weese, which is rendered in Douglas fir — a very subtle concept elevating the architectural meaning.
The expanded rink is now equipped with theatrical lighting and a sound system for ice shows and public skates. The rink will operate year-round, providing open skating, figure skating, hockey lessons and leagues. Activity rooms for classes, parties and exercise use of various sizes are positioned to serve the rink or the pool to the east.
The swimming pool has never looked so good. It feels more like an exclusive country club, defined by the colorful pattern of soft green and blue Trespa panels which clad the building and garden walls.
“As we studied the pattern,” McKay said, “Renaissance rusticated wall patterns kept coming up and the interest to express the summer activities struck a modern interpretation.”
Again we see the architect’s attention to infusing meaning into this element. New landscaping trees and umbrellas as well as a children’s pool by go-to landscape architects Josephine Bellalta and John MacManus of Altamanu soften the hard and orthogonal shapes with their natural forms and texture. Shade and color breaks up the hard surfaces, creating a compelling sense of place.
Ridgeland Common has been transformed from a bleak dark facility into a bright colorful complex for the community to use and be proud. It is now a wonderful asset, contributing to what attracts us all to Oak Park. This delightful project is more than a renovation — it is a transformation of a tired building into a piece of architecture.
Congratulations to the whole team!
Garret Eakin is a practicing architect, a critic and an adjunct full professor at the School of the Art Institute.