Manzanita District Park Swimming Pool
Tucson
Durrant Architects

Desert oasis enlivens a neglected rural area

© Mark Boisclair

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This community aquatics facility is set in the rugged Sonoran desert and is subject to harsh environmental conditions. Surrounded by beautiful, rocky mountain ranges and cacti, the site offers incredible views. Additionally, the project stands in a low-income, culturally diverse, rural neighborhood next to a park with a history of vandalism.

The goal was to create a facility that would be a source of community pride. Achieving this on a minimal budget necessitated a simple aesthetic that provided security, flexibility, low maintenance, and a sensitive environmental response. Proper solar orientation, few conditioned spaces and use of durable, common materials such as masonry, painted steel, and exposed concrete were crucial to the project.

A curved masonry wall marks the critical interface between the public and the facility. The wall is broken only where a steel canopy and rolling gate identify the entry. The solidity of the wall addresses the issues of privacy and security while a concrete block pattern alludes to the fragile nature of water in the desert and hints at the swimming pool oasis beyond. This pattern, inspired by the evaporation process, consists of brown split-faced block gradually turning gray as the wall rises from the earth.

The bath houses, which are open to the warm, dry desert air, are shaded by a metal "wing" that "floats" above the heavy masonry. The guard house protrudes above the structure to emphasize the entry and presence of the lifeguards. A successful and respected project, the facility has been in operation for one season without incident or vandalism.

Formal name of building:
Manzanita District Park Swimming Pool

Location:
Tucson

Gross square footage:
Interior and exterior: 11,000 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$1.3 million

Owner:
Pima County Parks and Recreation

Architect's firm:
Durrant Architects
2980 N. Campbell Ave., Ste 130
Tucson, AZ 85719
ph: 520-318-4250
fx: 520-318-4234