The city of Thornton’s plans for its new 87,000-sq-ft recreation center included more than 100 programs to support the recreational needs of the growing community. Soil conditions at the site were a major concern, and city leaders resolved it upfront to prevent future problems. The design and construction team worked together to use flexible connections on all utilities from the site to the building. This approach isolated the building from the soil so the ground can move and expand without affecting the structure, a strategy similar to the ones often implemented in earthquake-prone areas. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems required a negative pressure space to contain humidity in the natatorium, which includes the lap pool, lazy river, leisure pool and two waterslides.

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