Construction Update

PARKING LOT
Beginning on Monday, April 22, the center of the DRC parking lot will be fenced off to prepare for improvements.  The most significant of the improvements is the addition of a Radiant Ice Melt System that will add safety for those walking from the parking lot into the DRC during winter months.  This extensive ice melt system will be addded to the entire front drive and down a walkway in the middle of the parking lot. Additionally a courtyard will be added that will include a fountain water feature, natural landscaping, benches and warm toned patterned paving.

While the middle of the parking lot is fenced off, those who park on the west side of the parking lot construction area will have to walk around the north end the fencing to access the east DRC entrance. We aplologize for this temporary inconvenience and we appreciate your understanding. The end result will be worth the extra steps for the next two months!

DRC board members and staff took a tour of the construction area observing the changes and progress that have been made. The group was glad to see the the dramatic difference that the interior changes have made, increasing the amount of reappropriated space (i.e. two fitness studios, a yoga studio and a large foyer entryway).

Chris Drum, Rick Ruff, Robert Flaharty, Derek Smith

FITNESS CENTER
The fitness center is on schedule to move into the newly expanded and redesigned fitness area, which is where the free weights were fomerly located.  This area has undergone a radical transformation and additional space has been added to further expand the fitness center.  Much of the free weights and some of the cardio equipment will be moved into this area temporarily while the remainder of the fitness center is completely renovated.  Other pieces of cardio equipment will also be relocated to the track area. This move is anticipated for mid-May. Below are photos of this fitness center area as it is being prepared and renovated.

The windows below are a new addition to the fitness center.  These windows and the door opening to the left will be the temporary entrance to the fitness center from approximately mid-May through July.

The clerestory (high windows projecting from the roof) continues to be improved and the facia of the building has been torn off and the new building facade will begin to take shape.

 

Thank you for your continued support of the DRC through this construction process.   As always, please contact us if you have any questions. (316) 788-3781

The front of the DRC begins to change

Today the contractor started the removal of the DRC's front facade.  Changes are becoming more and more apparent.

Changes continue at the DRC

The first change a visitor to the Derby Recreation Center will notice is the entrance is no longer on the front of the building, but instead a temporary entrance is located on the east side (left when facing the front from the parking lot).

 

 

To make the walk to the new entrance more safe and easier to navigate, a temporary sidewalk was also added connecting the main parking lot to the new temporary entrance.

 

The most notable change, even visible from a distance, is the beginnings of the new clerestory (windows located on the roof to allow natural light into the foyer).

 

The process began with a hole cut into the roof and that portion of the roof was lifted away.

 

Just for fun, the DRC's Art Director made a video of the roof raising process.

 

  

The remaining hole was the first outward appearance of the roofline changes to come.

 

The addition of the iron beams gave basic shape to the clerestory.

 

The remaining portions of the new window area (clerestory) was framed in and currently looks like this.

 

According to schedule, the following has been accomplished:

·     In November, the Derby Recreation Commission moved all administrative operations out of building.  Offices for administrative staff are moved to a school district building at 724 E. Market, and the Oaklawn Activity Center.

 ·   Construction began on December 3 with the staging and demolition of the interior of the 1986 portion of the building.

 ·   Fitness equipment and weights were moved out of the weight room area and transferred to the activity studio. The wall between the cardio area of the fitness center and the activity studio was removed which created a large open fitness center footprint.

·     All classes generally held in the DRC Activity Studio were moved to the OAC and/or school facilities.

·     All art classes were moved to alternate sites provided by USD 260.

·    Patrons continue to be assisted with finding alternate locations for functions which in the past have occurred in the DRC meeting and community rooms.  Options include city facilities, school locations and the Oaklawn Activity Center.

·  In February, a temporary entrance on the east side of the building replaced the north entrance.

 

Looking ahead here are some of the things that you can expect to see as we progress through our remodel:

·  Temporary closure of partial areas of gymnasiums for the installation of updated lighting and sound systems (April 2013)

·   Fitness center equipment will be moved from its current location in the former activity studio back to the weight room area.  This will probably require some equipment to also be located in the alcoves of the east area of the track (May 2013)

·  Relocation of the spin room activities to an alternate location (OAC) for the construction of the 2nd floor restrooms (May 2013)

·  Owner occupancy to the front area of the Derby Recreation Center (July 2013)

·  Locker room and pool renovations begin (August & September 2013)

·  Demolition and re-purposing current control desk in the 1994 building into administrative offices (August 2013)

·  Owner occupancy of facility and completion of project (November 2013)

 

As you can see, there is still much to be accomplished, but we are well on our way.  As always if you have any questions, please contact us at (316) 788-3781.

 

A temporary entrance for the DRC

As construction continues at the Derby Recreation Center, some visible and logistical changes have taken place.

Beginning on Monday, February 4th the main entrance of the DRC will be closed and a new, TEMPORARY entrance will be opened on the EAST side of the building.  Signage will lead you  to the new entrance.

Wider concrete stairs have been added and a handicap accessible ramp also allows for ease of access.

Once inside you will pass through an entrance area (formerly office space)

Through the entrance area, you will immediately see the new entrance which leads directly into the gym. (While she is lovely and welcoming in this photo, Trina has not yet agreed to be our new greeter.)

And just for fun, here are photos of the progress being made behind the closed off walls in the fitness center.  This photo shows the area that was formerly the location of all the free weights. (Photo taken from the northeast corner of the room.)

To expand the fitness center, walls that once housed administrative offices (behind the weight room) have been removed. When complete, the fitness center will extend all the way to an exit on the west side of the building (to the sidewalk on Woodlawn St.).

As additional progress is made, we will share photos and information.

And the construction begins....

Construction has begun at the Derby Recreation Center! 

Most of the work is happening behind temporary walls inside the building.  But some signs of construction are apparent on the outside too.  Most notably, the temporary fencing which encloses areas of construction happening on the outside of the building.  The first external change visitors will notice will be a new temporary entrance on the east side of the Center.  This entrance is expected to be created within the next few weeks and will have visitors entering the building directly into the gym area.

One benefit to the construction project has been having the weight room move into the area that was formerly the activity/fitness studio.  The studio floor was removed and the free weights were moved over into the studio area.

The area that formerly housed the free weight room is now being prepared for the major renovation that will take place.

Construction and modifications are now taking place in the area that was formerly the lobby.

Major changes are underway in the former community room area.  But before the new can be put up, the old must come down.  So the demolition begins...

 Continue to check back regularly to see more signs of progress!