Marine Corps Base, Quantico
Physical Fitness Center Programming
The Department of the Navy Engineering Field Activity Chesapeake — under the direction of MTFA Architecture and on behalf of Marine Corps Base, Quantico — contracted Brailsford & Dunlavey in the spring of 2000 to per¬form a comprehensive joint programming effort for the Base's new Semper Fit Physical Fitness Center. The programming effort, which included site analysis, user interviews, building program definition and specification, and a tour of existing facilities, was initiated to define the building requirements for a second A/E team responsible for the design-build of the new facility.
The project team was charged with defining the requirements for a cutting edge facility that would meet the architectural standards of contemporary recreation facilities both inside and outside of the military, as well as the programmatic requirements of the advanced Semper Fit program already underway at the Base. Existing facilities were severely inadequate with regard to both of these goals. Therefore, in order to meet this mission of supporting the holistic training of military personnel and enhancing the overall quality of life on Base, a vision for a new facility was developed. It was determined that a new comprehensive Physical Fitness Center would greatly improve both the quantity and quality of Base fitness facilities and allow a substantial increase in quality and variety of programmatic offerings.
The project team delivered a comprehensive design-build program document identifying the building specifications necessary to achieve the required facility improvements. The plan provided space for a variety of functions including physical fitness, health assessments, and athletic competition.
Upon its opening, the new facility totaled approximately 5,300 square meters.