Reggie Rodriguez Community Center
-
ARCHITECTURAL TEAM | John Sparano, Anne Mooney, Ludwing Juarez, Matthew Bean, Michael Atkinson
-
2019 | “Reggie Rodriguez Community Center,” Archello, 2019
2018 | “Reggie Rodriguez Community Center in Montebello,” e-architect, October 2018
2018 | "Reggie Rodriguez Community Center in Montebello," e-architect, September 2018
2018 | “Under the Radar: Reggie Rodriguez Community Center,” AIA California Council, February 2018
2005 | "New Designs: Reggie Rodriguez Community Center", LA Architect, March/April 2005
2004 | "Los Angeles, Reggie Rodriguez Community Center", Bauwelt, June 2004
2002 | "Point of Tension, A Case Study: Reggie Rodriguez Community Center", Arc CA, March 2002
2002 | "Project Portfolio: Community Centers, Reggie Rodriguez Community Center", Architectural Record.com, February 2002
Sparano + Mooney Architecture was commissioned to design this community center project and revitalize a central location for the at-risk youth population in the City of Montebello, east of downtown Los Angeles. The program included space for four non-profit agencies to provide activities and services for the youth, and a police drop-in station. Two rooftop decks and a multipurpose room provide areas for community gatherings.
The architecture is sited within the 11-acre Reggie Rodriguez Park and is surrounded by a residential area. This contemporary community center was conceived as a physical expression of the often-perilous passage from adolescence to maturity. A combination of active and reflective experiences are present: from porous public spaces that spill out into the park, to the more introverted and cloistered areas for concentrated work and personal development. A seamless concrete surface leading from the outside connects the entry to the park plaza. All circulation is open to the air, increasing the sustainability of the architecture and reducing operating costs for the client. Views extend straight through the building, and at night the light from the lobby filters through the entrance screen, spilling light out into the park. During the day the entire façade opens to the park to invite the community to explore the center’s modern public spaces and programs.
The award-winning design has been featured in exhibitions and publications in the US and was named one of the Top 100 Community Center Design Projects in the world.
