Plymouth Community Center

A Clear Project Vision for a Growing Community

The City of Plymouth, Minnesota has a long history of prioritizing a high quality of life for its residents. The Plymouth Community Center (PCC) was a beloved amenity that saw over 300,000 visitors annually. An extensive community engagement process established guiding principles and ensured that the new design upheld PCC’s unique character and the City’s goals for the future.

The renovation and expansion provide numerous, varied, and flexible spaces where programming can occur simultaneously. Dedicated youth spaces such as the Indoor Playspace, Youth Room, “Messy” Art, and STEM Classrooms allow for social and emotional activities that complement the adult programming taking place in multipurpose spaces, such as weekly games of bridge, community theater, and social time. With accessibility in mind, facilities including a gymnasium, fitness, dance rooms, and walking track provide opportunities for physical activity for all ages. In addition, a community Art Gallery and a Sensory Room showcase the City’s commitment to well-being and connection, offering an equitable and inclusive space with diverse experiences. The event wing renovation better facilitates the needs of rental and event clientele, a key revenue generator for the city.

Using wrapping, banding, and layering, the building is woven together to unify the various spaces and masses both inside and out. On the exterior, precast, and metal panels continuously wrap the building conforming to and joining the various programmatic elements within. The use of a translucent polycarbonate at the track and entry provides both daylight to interior spaces and an iconic glow at night.

The project meets both B3 State of Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines and the Sustainable Building 2030 (SB2030) energy standard. The design includes daylighting, photovoltaics for onsite renewable energy, native site plantings, highly efficient mechanical and electrical systems, and an increase in building envelope performance.