The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn is a multi-use facility with amenities for the civic center’s recreation and performing arts components, and is currently the largest of its kind in the country.

The recreation facilities include a 15,000 square foot indoor aquatics area.  Also featured is a double gymnasium equipped with an elevated running track, fitness center, rock climbing wall and dance/aerobics studios.

The performing arts area houses a 13,000 square foot events hall.  The focal point is a 1,200 seat performing arts center, a 200 seat multiform theater, scene shop, dressing rooms, green room and offices.

The challenge for the design team was to combine recreational spaces and performing arts facilities under one roof.  The goal was to create a flexible, state-of-the-art center that community members would be proud of. 

The project, which includes a 130,000 square foot addition, demanded a high degree of noise control throughout the facility - specifically in the performing arts area - specialty lighting, and accommodation of varied use occupancies with differing hours of operation.

The Peter Basso Associate team, in close coordination with project architect TMP Associates, met the challenge by designing an HVAC and electrical system which, when integrated with the building layout designed by the architect, provides the Dearborn Community with the definitive facility.

One critical element of the project was dehumidification of the recreational spaces.  An energy recovery type dehumidification system conditions the air to the natatorium,  and the air is distributed to the space through a fabric duct system.  Both the ductwork and dehumidification unit are designed specifically for the corrosive natatorium atmosphere.  The location of this equipment, along with other mechanical and electrical equipment, was coordinated with the strict acoustical requirements of the performing arts area.

The dome-shaped ceiling of the 250,000 square foot multipurpose space provided a unique challenge for the lighting team.  The room required low level lighting for dining and high level lighting for trade shows.  The “wedge” shaped central concourse is 320 feet long, 10 feet wide at one end and 70 feet wide at the other, with 15 foot ceiling height at one end and 40 foot ceiling height at the other.  The space serves as a fitness area and contains a rock climbing wall.  Indirect lighting with supplemental park-like lighting at the high ceiling end was utilized to reduce glare on the patrons as they work out.  

One final challenge for the design team was adhering to strict noise criteria in the performing arts center, while providing adequate comfort levels.  Theaters traditionally have ventilation schemes utilizing downflow mixed air with ductwork installed near the roof.  For this facility, a displacement ventilation scheme was used.  A concrete supply air plenum was installed below the seating plate which supplies conditioned air to the occupied zone through outlets under the seats.  This allows the noise criteria to be maintained while providing good comfort control at lower operating costs.

The PBA design included many features to reduce construction and operational costs:

The theater under floor air distribution system requires much less ductwork than a traditional overhead system.

The use of multiple energy sources eliminates the need to expand the central plant.

The dedicated natatorium energy recovery dehumidification unit provides conditioned air to the pool area while reducing cost.

A fabric duct system in the natatorium provides the corrosion resistance needed for the pool environment, and in the gym and main concourse it provides a cost effective and aesthetically pleasing installation.

Occupancy sensors are widely used for both lighting and HVAC control in smaller rooms to shut down those systems in rooms that are not being utilized.

During non-core hours, the building air systems are zoned to heat and cool only those areas of the building that are occupied, thus reducing utility costs.

Project Team

The PBA INNOVATORS selected from the project team are Dan Englehart, George Hopkins and Eric Deska.