What it takes to build a modern community center

Every successful commercial project begins the same way — with the owner’s goals and the architect’s design.

The contractor’s role is to turn those plans into a durable, functional facility while managing the technical, logistical and scheduling challenges that arise during construction.

However, unlike most commercial buildings, a park district community center is unique because it brings together athletics, recreation and community programming in a single facility designed to serve residents for decades. This is certainly the case with Elmhurst’s newest community center.

Turning vision into reality

The project began when the Elmhurst Park District tapped local architecture firm Dewberry and community members to shape a modern recreation center that reflected the community’s evolving needs.

According to Angela Ferrentino, the park district's director of referendum project construction, the team toured recreation facilities throughout the region, evaluating successful features and gathering ideas that informed the final design.

An advisory committee also helped refine the building’s programming and layout based on resident feedback.

Once McHugh Construction and joint venture partner Nacional Group were selected to build the 127,250-square-foot Joanne B. Wagner Community Center at 615 N. West Ave. in Elmhurst, that planning became the road map for construction. Our focus shifted to executing the design, coordinating dozens of trade partners and delivering a facility built to serve the community for years to come.

Building from the ground up

One of the biggest challenges on any project is preparing the site before the structure begins to take shape. While a building’s exterior is naturally the first impression residents have of a facility, much of the engineering that determines a building’s long-term performance remains hidden below ground or within the building envelope.

At Wagner Community Center, that work begins beneath the new outdoor artificial turf soccer fields, where an underground stormwater detention system manages runoff while supporting high-performance drainage that allows the fields to return to use more quickly after heavy rain. Although hidden from view, the system will improve the site’s performance for decades.

Above grade, the building will use precast concrete panels to create durable exterior walls and structural steel roof framing to span the large, column-free spaces needed for gymnasiums and recreation areas. The steel framing also will support suspended athletic equipment and building systems. Once the precast panels begin to rise, months of excavation and foundation work will quickly give way to a recognizable building.

The architectural design also calls for expansive curtain wall glass, metal panels and exposed glulam timber that will extend from the exterior canopy into the main lobby, creating a light-filled, welcoming entrance that reflects the building’s role as a community gathering place.

Built to serve

Inside, expanded gymnastics facilities, multiple gymnasiums, an indoor turf field, dance studios, an elevated walking track and early childhood spaces will support year-round programming. Ferrentino notes gymnastics participation has grown in recent years, driving the need for additional space, modern in-ground equipment and enhanced training areas.

Delivering a project of this scale requires constant coordination among the owner, architect, construction team and dozens of trade partners. Working with Nacional Group, McHugh continues to collaborate closely with the Elmhurst Park District and Dewberry to maintain quality, coordinate the work of trade partners and keep the project progressing safely and efficiently.

Construction often is measured in cubic yards of concrete, tons of steel and days on the schedule. However, the true measure of a successful public project is how well it serves the people who use it. When Wagner Community Center opens in 2027, it will stand as the product of thoughtful planning, sound engineering and disciplined construction, and will be a lasting community asset that will serve Elmhurst residents for generations.

• Marty Hutchinson is a project executive at McHugh Construction.