Gaisman Park and Community Center

4223 Macon Rd., Memphis, TN 38122 United States

Building Area (sf): 28,195

Completion: October 27, 2023

A new Community Center nestled within the existing trees of Gaisman Park cultivates a sense of community among the residents of this multi-cultural neighborhood.

The New Community Center and corresponding soccer fields replace an uninviting existing fortress-like center that had fallen into disrepair, where those in the park didn’t venture inside. Multiple neighborhood meetings provided critical feedback for what the residents wanted in their community center: a place to gather and play, open, inviting, flexible spaces, the ability to influence programming, and an indoor walking track. Inspired by the trees on site, the building is set up with wings radiating from the central trunk for different uses: community, fitness, and play. The Community wing features multi-functional spaces; a space for meetings, events, and rumba lessons; a kitchen for event support and teaching local residents healthy meal planning; or a conference/ computer room, also providing a place for residents to meet with the police discretely. The fitness wing includes the fitness room and outdoor fitness porch and is closely linked to the Play wing, with a gymnasium and elevated walking track. The Play wing floods with daylight streaming in through large expanses of glass. The elevated walking track makes one feel like one is walking in the tree canopy enveloping the building. Over the years, the neighborhood’s demographics have changed; in response, all interior signage is in English, Spanish, and Arabic. This change is further celebrated in the permanent mural adorning the wall of the communicating stair and the temporary exhibits celebrating the neighborhood’s ethnicities. The new Center has energized this multicultural neighborhood, creating a renewed sense of pride for the residents, and has become a model for future City community centers.

01- It was essential to the City of Memphis and the Berclair neighborhood for the new center to be part of the park and nestle within the trees, welcoming all. Photo by Ken West Photography
02- Three concepts were inspired by tree structure and form—Root, Branch, and Canopy. The selected Root Scheme compliments the natural form of the trees with a curved entry similar to the above-ground root structures, steady and strong, open as an embrace. Drawings by LRK
03- Preservation of the existing trees was vitally important to the city of Memphis and the neighborhood. An arborist guided the design team in placing and rotating the building over the previous building pad, minimizing the impact of the existing root structures. Drawings by LRK
04- Indoor and outdoor connections start from the moment residents step on site. Views from the front door carry through to the park porch and the soccer fields beyond. Drawings by LRK
05- The original fortress-like building deterred residents from entering. The new entrance, with an entry plaza and landscaping, welcomes all residents. Photo by Ken West Photography
06- The park porch connects the soccer fields and existing playground to the community center. Photo by Ken West Photography
07- The new Community Center’s material palette was considered throughout the design process, from the earliest concept studies. Color snapshots of the neighborhood were collected, illustrating the palettes of greens, rusts, and earth tones that connect the building with its environment, a park, and a forested arboretum embraced by a multicultural neighborhood. Photo by Ken West Photography
08- A designated arts and crafts room engages multiple age groups while maintaining visual connection to the outdoors. Photo by Ken West Photography
09- The gymnasium provides play space for all residents, ranging from basketball and volleyball to yoga and ballroom dancing. The glazing on all sides floods the space with daylight and those on the elevated track walk amongst the trees. Photo by Ken West Photography
10- Illuminated for all to see, the mural celebrates the diversity of the neighborhood, much like the original mural. Photos by Ken West Photography