Rally House
Design for Community
Our client came to us looking for a design that prioritized athletics but also felt elevated and welcoming. A place for sport while also being community hub that encourages gathering and supports social events. The café offers bar seating for people grabbing a quick refreshment or watching a match on the big screen TVs, tables for groups of friends and families to gather and relax post game, and window seating with a view of the open fields around site. The courts are bisected by a lounge on the first level and a mezzanine on the second level, providing seating for players relaxing or catching up between games and for visitors to watch matches on both sides of the building. A kids' nook carves out space for younger players to hang out or work on homework. Outside, a pavilion with benches and table seating welcomes visitors to grab a drink and relax in the shade.
Design for Visibility
Providing clear views of the courts for spectators in both the lounge and mezzanine was essential to the experience of the space. The layout of each piece of laminated glazing separating the courts from the lounge minimizes visual interruption for those standing and sitting to watch matches. The layout of the building itself focuses the attention on the courts, with the entry and café zones flowing toward the court zone. Visitors can spot the courts upon entering the facility, and walk onto the playing surfaces shortly after arriving at the facility. The clarity of court layouts allows for easy way finding and a continued focus in the core of the building for both play and socializing.
Design for Excellence
Our design prioritized the experience of the racket sport players, the USTA tournament approved court dimensions and minimized glare from court lighting. The tennis courts feature a system of fencing and vinyl curtains that divide each court, creating privacy and minimizing visual distractions for players. Low fences on the pickleball side control stray balls and allow clear views across the greater space to support the social aspect of the sport. The colors chosen for both court sides maximize visibility for tennis and pickleball. Overhead doors and large fans allows for natural cooling during spring, summer, and fall. The pro shop carves out space for players to get their racket restrung or purchase needed gear before a match, making both racket maintenance and last minute matches more accessible.
Design for Performance
The building skin is a reinforced fabric with two layers of airtight material, one inside the structure to air seal the space and one outside as a weather barrier. The inner barrier was designed to be extremely airtight but had not been tested in our region, or under our strict thermal continuity requirements. A large effort was undertaken by the design team with the building manufacturer to coordinate both thermal continuity and air tightness details. Once the building was sealed up we performed a blower door test and achieved an air leakage rating that was ten times tighter than code requirements and exceeded passive house requirements.
