Beach Area Restrooms
Completion: 2000
Description: In early 2000, the recently founded Village of Islamorada in the Florida Keys began development of its signature park which would eventually house all municipal facilities. Already using an onsite structure as its Village Hall, the Village Council’s initial focus was on improving the park’s natural amenities for resident’s use as a public park.
RAI joined forces with Gregis Construction, as a design-build team for the design and development of the first new facilities on the site. Initially, in early 2000, the team designed and built a new public restroom facility for use by patrons of the park’s beach. The project was required to be easy to maintain, and able to withstand the abuse consistent with heavy usage in a public recreation area – so getting the details right was important! The design incorporates exposed masonry and concrete construction with interior tile finishes, enabling “hose-down” cleaning. The durable surfaces which included poured concrete lavatory countertops and stainless-steel partitions were all part of the team’s design to resist heavy doses of abuse.
Pool & Skate Park
Completion: 2001
Description: Following the success of their previous engagement, the Village of Islands once again retained the services of RAI and Gregis Construction for the design and construction of their new Aquatic Facility. Building on the success of a village resident and Olympic swimmer, the village envisioned the facility would simultaneously provide training opportunities for the competitive swimming teams of northern based Universities which sought out the stable, year-round summer environment of the Florida Keys as well as a pool for public use of the village residents. The pool, designed by aquatic facility consultants that formed part of the team, provides competitive configurations for 50- and 100-meter competitions and a deep diving well at its center, complete with boards and dive platforms.
RAI designed the support building to provide public spaces for check-in, offices for administrative and coaching staff, restroom and locker room facilities for both sexes, the necessary pool equipment and storage rooms, as well as an adjacent skate park, also for public use.