Black River Beach Neighborhood Center

La Crosse, WI

Taking advantage of its location near the mouth of the Black River in north La Crosse, the Black River Neighborhood Center showcases magnificent views of its surroundings.

As visitors approach, a pergola frames the scene. Through the break between the main building and picnic shelter, the beach is accessible. With a free-standing, raised life guard station, the sand is also home to a swimming area, sand volleyball courts, and children’s play areas.

Just steps from the sand, the main building connects to the outdoor elements with large operable windows and clean comfortable air for the building.

A natural lit lobby is utilized for community event displays and houses a reception desk. Additional programmatic elements incorporated in the 7,000-square-foot building include a multipurpose room, with more magnificent views of the river, a craft room, a computer classroom, administration space, and restrooms and outdoor showers to serve the beach.

The large size of the building is brought down to a more residential scale through the use of smaller gable roofs, visually tying it to the surrounding neighborhood.

Sustainability was central to the development of this building. Additionally, the roof was designed with a generous overhang to provide shading from the strong summer sun. A solar panel system is utilized to meet the center’s requirements for domestic water heating. Collectively the active and passive mechanical and lighting design strategies provide a cost savings for the center.