Madison Park Community Center

Eight miles north of Nashville, the quickly growing community of Madison, Tennessee is home to a diverse mix of families, young and old. Replacing an outdated and outgrown Community Center, this new 26,000-square-foot building creates an object in the park – designed to receive and reflect the dappled light and shadows cast by old-growth trees intentionally left in place. It establishes a central element around which the 30+ acre park is radially organized into quadrants: athletics, play and leisure, recreational activities, and natural features.

Conceptually organized into two masses, the solid and void indicate the use within. The solid brick mass references the surrounding historic residential context and houses a basketball court and indoor track. The void is wrapped in a contemporary metal panel and a continuous glass band. This expanse of glass provides the gymnasium, movement studio, and community rooms with views of the park and fields and puts the activity within on display, opening the Center up and inviting the community in.