Bridging River's Edge Sports Complex

Abstract

This project explores the issue of revealing the structural integrity of a building through the design of a recreational sports facility. The designated site for this sports facility is the River's Edge Sports Complex located in Roanoke, Virginia. A unique setting because the Roanoke River nearly cuts through the center of this site dividing the northern half with the existing football stadium, Victory Stadium, the National Guard Reserve Armory, and Maher Baseball Field from the southern portion containing athletic fields, tennis courts, and a playground. In order to consolidate the facilities into one sports complex, I propose a number of interventions including a bridge building, observation tower, coliseum, natatorium, racquetball courts, and exercise rooms. The goal of providing a smooth unifying path over the river, while creating a unique setting, presents an intriguing architectural challenge. The investigation focuses on the appropriate architectural expressions and structural possibilities of the long spanning bridge building since it is the central unifying element of the sports complex.