Fredonia Community Center

Lyle Cook Martin Architects

The challenge was to restore the extremely dilapidated existing wood framed, clap board school house building. Initial thoughts were to demolish the questionable structure to make room for a new Community Center, but strong public support, under the leadership of outspoken locals who attended the school in the past, insisted on a complete restoration.

This rural area has not had a government sponsored capital project built in many years and all community members were in total support with hundreds of contributors. This facility was once their community Elementary School and many of the current locals attended this school. It was, and is, very important to them. Three Public Input meetings were held with full capacity attendance, therefore, the County funded the project.

Validation of the importance and impact of the project was evidenced by the vast outpouring of community supporters during the official ground breaking ceremony, where seats were filled and the parking lot became an overflow area with standing room capacity only. This is the greatest public attribute to this rural community since the school building was originally built in the 1920's.

Sustainability has been achieved through purposeful inclusion of high performing insulation systems, clever HVAC plenum return strategies, high performing replacement glazing units and most importantly by the positive heavy community use since its opening. An old original cistern was restored and is used for plant irrigation purposes. This was mandated by the Owner. Native landscaping was selected at green areas around the building. There is a large rainwater runoff detention basin at the rear of the building with grasses and plantings to take advantage of this water. There is a hybrid site waste system meeting all state regulatory requirements. No waste leaves the site.

The site is deep in a rural area, but includes a vast natural site open for hiking, walking, multipurpose activities, etc. A future pre-planned outdoor park enhancement project is on the boards, but not yet funded. Once constructed, the site will include restored school type baseball fields, distant marked walking trail, an outdoor gathering and cooking pavilion, an old historic BBQ pit will be rebuilt and the placement of the restored one room doctor's office building that once sat on the site.