New multi-use center
Community engagement process to begin in 2017
Board also approves contract to expand Barcroft gymnastics facilities
The Arlington County Board today approved a contract to plan and design a new Lubber Run Community Center, following a robust community engagement process set to begin in early 2017.
“Lubber Run is an important resource but needs to be replaced,” said Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey. “This contract marks the beginning of the process to plan and design a new center that will serve our community for many decades to come. We will be reaching out to the community in many ways for their views in the coming months, and I urge folks to get involved in this exciting project.”
A New Lubber Run
The County Board voted 5 to 0 to approve a $3.9 million contract (including contingency) with VMDO, Inc. to plan and design a new Lubber Run Community Center at 300 N. Park Drive. The new center will be up to four stories, and will include a gymnasium and playground areas. An underground parking structure will help maximize green space.
Built in 1956, Lubber Run is the oldest County facility specifically designed as a community center. The senior program from Culpepper Garden will be relocated to the new center, and the Department of Parks and Recreation will continue its preschool program at the new Lubber Run. The Sports and Recreation Division staff of the Department of Parks and Recreation, currently located at Lubber Run and 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, will all be housed in the new Lubber Run center. According to the Board’s direction, office use at the center should remain subservient to the community center use in the form and function of the overall facility.
The building will include sustainable material and systems; VMDO, Inc. recently completed design of APS’s Discovery School and will use their experience with sustainability design features in the Lubber Run project. The County will require a minimum of LEED Building Design + Construction Silver Certification for the project.
A robust community engagement process — including public meetings,, gathering feedback and other outreach — for the building and park design development will begin in 2017. Construction is planned to start in late 2018.
Funding for the project is included in the approved Fiscal Year 2015-2022 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The total project budget is $47.5 million and is funded through the 2016 voter-approved Bond Referendum. To learn more, visit the County website. To read the staff report on the contract for Lubber Run Community Center, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item No. 22 on the agenda for the Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 County Board Meeting.
Expanding Barcroft gymnastics facilities
Due to overwhelming demand from Arlington residents, the gymnastics program at Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center, at 4200 S. Arlington Mill Drive, is expanding into the current Barcroft gym. The Board approved the award of a $1.7 million contract (including contingency) to Sorenson Gross Company for the conversion and build-out of a second gymnastics area.
Upgrades and renovations will include converting the existing gym into a gymnastics area, renovating the existing gymnastics area, installing staff lockers, renovating the existing women’s locker room, replacing the building roof and replacing three roof-mounted air handling units for the building’s HVAC system.
Work on the new gymnastics center will begin this winter and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center will retain its normal hours and operations throughout the project and the fitness center will remain open. Activities such as indoor soccer, ball hockey and basketball have been relocated to Arlington Mill Community Center. Click here to find out where activities are currently taking place.
Funds are available from the 2017 PAYGO funds and the newly approved County bonds from the 2016 Referenda. Learn more about the project here.
To read the staff report on this contract, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item No. 23 on the agenda for the Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 County Board Meeting.