Context/Significance
A 50-acre waterfront park on Clark’s Point provides a perfect setting for this multi-program community facility. It occupies a scenic waterfront site not far from the historic Fort Rodman that was built between 1857 and 1871 as part of the nation’s sea coast defense system
Description
Taber Park Community Center serves as a summer day camp, a senior center and as a venue for community meetings. The integration of these functions allows the facility to be used year round in a location where residents can take advantage of over one mile of walking, jogging or biking paths, natural areas, a beach, a fishing pier, playground, community boating and picnic areas offering panoramic views
The facility addresses the city’s need for additional meeting and multiuse spaces, including special programs for seniors. The venue includes a 3000 square foot function room or main hall and a classroom area that can be divided into three rooms with folding partitions. Support areas include a kitchen, office space, changing rooms for the day camp and toilet facilities designed for 200 persons. In keeping with the traditional New England context, the steel framed structure is clad in cedar clapboard siding and roofed with shingles.
Special features
The facility was designed in an ecologically sensitive zone where consideration to the building’s location within the 100 year flood plane was required.