Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center

The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center provides state-of-the-art amenities and services to enhance the physical and emotional well-being of local residents. Located in Southeast DC, the 37,000 sf facility serves all ages and abilities with inclusive spaces and opportunities for community engagement and outdoor gatherings. Designed as a premier therapeutic center in the region, the building features a pool and spa, locker rooms, activity and therapy spaces, a kitchen, bathrooms, and meeting rooms. Additional amenities include a full-size gymnasium, a fitness center, lounge spaces, an arts and crafts room, and multipurpose rooms. The outdoor spaces also feature two playgrounds, shade canopies, a splash pad, a community garden, fitness equipment, and open park space.

A unique structural steel design, detailing, and construction challenge was present in this building through the sloping roofs and continuous protruding sharp-edged eave designs along the perimeter. The alignment of finishes at the eave soffits was fit in-field onto the varying sloped structural steel roof framing with the bent plate extending beyond fenestration, which produced this seamless and continuous ‘knife edge’ design.