Insider Tours: Carla Madison Recreation Center
Friday, September 27 & Saturday, September 28
About the tour: Join Carla Madison’s Facility Supervisor and Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture’s Studio Partner for a behind-the-scenes tour of Carla Madison Recreation Center. Built in 2018 at Colfax Ave. and Josephine, this tour will reveal why it was designed as a 5 story building and how it operates to serve Denver residents day to day. Visitors will see all the building’s amenities, including the impressive views from the rooftop event space and exterior climbing wall. Enjoy this glimpse into one of Denver’s Parks and Recreation’s greatest gems, and maybe consider buying a membership.
About the building: The Carla Madison Recreation Center is located at the corner of Colfax and Josephine in central Denver. This unique location provides an opportunity to connect to and extend City Park into the urban environment along Colfax Avenue, the longest continuous street in the nation.
The desire for the recreation center to respect and connect to historical landmarks, Colfax Avenue, City Park and residential neighborhoods to the north and south drove a multi-level approach to keep the footprint small.
This facility provides greatly needed recreation opportunities to a currently underserved population in the surrounding areas. The five-level, LEED Gold certified facility includes a lifestyle pool, 8-lane lap pool, gymnasium, fitness areas, community gathering spaces, classrooms and outdoor amenities. The site is designed to create a new venue for community gathering.
This facility provides greatly needed recreation opportunities to a currently underserved population in the surrounding areas. The five-level, LEED Gold certified facility includes a lifestyle pool, 8-lane lap pool, gymnasium, fitness areas, community gathering spaces, classrooms and outdoor amenities. The site is designed to create a new venue for community gathering.
About the tour guides: Kevin Armstrong, Studio Partner at Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture, has spent the last 20 years designing community recreation centers in Colorado and across the country. He believes in providing design solutions that respond to programmatic needs, operational requirements, and context while adhering to the project budget. He understands that the key to success in architecture is communication and listening to the project team’s needs to ensure the client’s goals are met throughout the design and construction process.
Drew Jordan, Senior Recreation Supervisor at Carla Madison Recreation Center, started his recreation journey at the age of 16 and has never looked back. From coaching kids, running after school programming, to now managing Denver Parks and Recreation’s largest facility, Drew’s passion has always involved creating inclusive spaces for the public to enjoy. A passion for Drew has been engaging the community and working to find solutions that remove barriers to a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Accessibility: The tour will cover all four stories of the building. Each floor is accessible via staircase or elevator.