The City of San Jose commissioned Group 4 to design a replacement for an aging community center facility on property adjacent to the park along East Santa Clara Street, filling the need for neighborhood-based recreation and social service programs, through a program including a large multipurpose room, classrooms, a computer lab, teen center, dance and fitness rooms, early childhood recreation rooms, a juice bar and lounge, and staff work and support space.

The highly collaborative design process involved a series of community meetings and engagement with specific user groups including teens and City staff. Group 4 worked closely with the City to align the program and the budget while preserving functionality, flexibility, and capacity; the team also worked with public artists early in design to maximize integration of art and architecture.

Central to the project is the creation of a place that welcomes, reflects, and energizes the full spectrum of residents in the community, honoring an open spirit of recreation, education, and interaction. The Center connects people as well as place, anchoring both Roosevelt Park and a burgeoning business district along East Santa Clara Street. The Center creates a strong civic presence along the street while welcoming park users with a softer, more transparent entrance.
A centrally positioned reception desk sees all major corridors and public entrances and enables staff to close the second floor during off-peak hours. The facility also supports self-sufficient public use.

The building reflects the community’s passion for a sustainable society through the full integration and clear expression of energy conserving and environmentally sustainable materials, systems and architectural strategies. The Center is an integral part of the City of San Jose’s citywide “Greenprint” strategic plan for parks and community facilities and programs. Careful design and planning resulted in LEED Gold certification – the first project in San Jose to attempt or achieve this level of certification.