BELL Architects is currently working on the adaptive reuse, modernization and addition to the former Kenilworth Elementary School. This project will transform the former school, located at 1300 44th Street, NE, Washington, DC into a much needed recreation center for the Kenilworth neighborhood.

The site is bounded by 44th street, NE, Ord Street, NE, Nash Street, NE and an existing alley. The school includes an original one story building constructed in 1933, which was expanded in the 1950s to include a second story added to the original building (east wing) a one story, column free wing to the north of the original building, and a three story building to the northeast of the original building. The new recreation spaces will be on the first floor of the east wing and the north wing of the addition. The new gymnasium will be aligned with the original building and the north wing. The new outdoor pool and pool house are attached to the west end of the north wing.

The Project will include the addition of a competition-sized gymnasium, as well as an outdoor pool with a pool house and various site improvements. The existing building’s refurbishment will include approximately 18,000 SF of renovated space, consisting of a new lobby/lounge area, a large multi-purpose space, fitness area, boxing area, locker rooms, men’s and women’s restrooms, senior and teen activity areas, a kitchen, and ADA accessibility upgrades. All building elements and systems designed for the project will target LEED Gold Certification at a minimum. The modernization shall be completed by the spring of 2016.

The pool house is configured with separate gender locker/change rooms on either side of a central entry area with a family change room, janitor’s closet, an office and first aid space. The east end of the pool house has a mechanical room and pool storage, accessed from the pool deck. On the east end, there are separate gender toilet rooms, accessed from outside the pool deck area.

The pool deck area is intended to accommodate 200 bathers with two pools, an activity pool and a leisure pool. The activity pool would have a beach entry (zero entry) and the leisure pool would beconfigured for twenty-five yards long (possible 25 meters), 6 lanes wide as well as a seperate rideout waterslide.