PIMA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS AND RECREATION

This neighborhood center is a part of a larger community-revitalization strategy within the Flowing Wells community. The facility has been named after the pioneering community activist and Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association and Community Coalition President Ellie Towne. Ellie and her neighbors worked together over several years to bring people together to improve the safety and quality of life in their neighborhood. Their grass roots problem solving has yielded many community benefits and improvement projects. When a major roadwork project left behind three vacant land parcels the neighborhood, with the help of Poster Frost Mirto, master planned a community activity hub that includes a public library, a pocket park, and this community center.

The Ellie Towne Community Center houses needed programs for toddlers, youth, teens, and seniors; supports art and leisure programming for all; and serves as a crossroads and meeting place for the surrounding neighborhood. The compact four building campus surrounds an urban desert oasis courtyard, sheltered by an overhead tensile fabric shade structure. All activity spaces enjoy views into the courtyard through full height glass curtain walls.

Location : Tucson, Arizona

Year of Completion : 2005

Size : 20,000 SF

Cost : $3,000,000