This was a conceptual design for a Winter Sports Complex presented to the Board of Governors of The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.  Founded in 1882, The Country Club is the oldest golf-oriented country club in the United States and holds a storied position in golf history: the TCC was one of the original five charter clubs that founded the United States Golf Association and has been the setting of several major golf championships including a four-time host of the US Open.   While the Club is known for its world renown golf course, it has facilities for tennis, platform paddle tennis, swimming, curling, fitness, skeet shooting, ice skating and hockey.   During the winter season, the curling facility is the main driver of club events — dinners, lunches, etc. — and the brief for this proposal was to design a facility that would connect four separate structures: the curling facility, two indoor tennis court buildings and a small tennis locker room facility.  After completing this initial proposal, I was asked to expand the scope of the project to integrate the old Stable Building and convert its use from a maintenance facility into an indoor gymnasium, yoga studios, squash courts and additional Club meeting rooms and offices.   

        Drawing upon the existing architectural idioms — the Federalist-style main Club House and the pedimented Stable building — the new structures were designed in the same architectural style with a matching materials palette: white painted wood trim, yellow painted clapboard, bluestone and brick paving, multi-pane double-hung windows, and shingle roofs.   The program would maintain and preserve the historical character of the Stable building, preserve its presence on the Oval Lawn, and “square off” several misaligned buildings behind it so that design consistency and harmony is achieved.  The new structure has two major components: a central “Hub” and a new “Stable” building.  These two structures are connected via a glass-enclosed Arcade which leads directly from the Oval Lawn and allows Club Members to enjoy all of the various functions of the facility without having to brave New England’s harsh winters.  The facility provides renovated lockers for Curling and Platform Tennis as well as overflow lockers for the Indoor Tennis Court Buildings; a full loading dock and service entrance; an extensive mechanical plant and storage rooms; a new Pro Shop with dressing rooms; a staff office; a large Lobby/Living Room area encouraging casual interactions between members; and, upstairs, a large Lounge/Restaurant for casual dining.  This space is designed for families with children, but the room is nearly the size of the existing Ballroom in the Club House and — with a full service kitchen — can be used for many Club events.  From this floor there is also access to the existing “Shot Rock Cafe” viewing gallery as well as a new Viewing Gallery/Lounge overlooking the Indoor Tennis Court Building.