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Newark, New Jersey, USA | 2016

Architects: ikon.5 architects 
Client: Newark Housing Authority
Contractor: Hunter Roberts Construction Group LLC.
Photographers: Jeffrey Totaro

The Training Recreation Education Center (TREC) is a 22,000-square-foot recreation and education community center in the residential neighborhood boarding the Olmsted-designed Weequahic Park in the south ward of Newark, New Jersey.

Newark Housing Authority intends to provide both recreational and educational services to this struggling urban community with this multi-functioning facility. Inspired by the geometric collision of the city’s urban grid adjacent to the Park, the building’s form is two interlocking triangles each representing a portion of the city at the shift in the grid around the park.

The result is an iconic building formed by two triangular wedges next to each other.

One wedge is open and transparent at the meetings and classrooms and addresses the public street.

The other wedge is solid and opaque at the gymnasium and recreation functions. This iconic community center is intended to be a bright beacon for the adjacent community and rejuvenate housing.

The facility houses a gymnasium, fitness and aerobic rooms, yoga and dance studios, classrooms, open technology commons, a child care center, a teaching kitchen and community meeting rooms.