Detailed Overview of the Cahill Fitness & Wellness Center

Design of the new Cahill Fitness & Wellness Center, which is located in Baltimore’s Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, was inspired by the surrounding densely wooded 1,000-acre urban oasis. The building’s natural forms and exterior material palette of wood and glass curtainwall merge the facility with the forested landscape. Inside, wood saved by Baltimore’s Camp Small Zero Waste Initiative and milled into construction timber adorns the walls.

Community Amenities and Fitness Programming

New community amenities that promote movement and fitness include a 3-lane, 25-yard indoor pool, kid’s zone with zero entry and water features, splashpad, nature-inspired playgrounds, and basketball courts. Flexible spaces, including a dance studio, classroom, gymnasium, and auditorium, welcome a variety of programming where community members of all ages and abilities can express and pursue their individual talents and interests.

Visible from the entry, open fitness space within the building core engages and inspires users to meet their own fitness goals. As a result of an inclusive community engagement program, the design team learned that the former facility was home to a successful youth-based theater program that lacked sufficient space, thus restricting the program’s growth. To accommodate the additional square footage and cost of a performance space, designers worked closely with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks to develop a highly efficient floor plan by allocating fitness space within the central core and removing unnecessary circulation space.

Sustainable Design Features

Designed to be compliant with the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), the building’s sustainable design elements include light colored roofing materials to minimize heat island effect, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, recycled materials, and low-emitting materials. Energy reduction initiatives include:

• LED energy efficient lighting
• Natural daylighting coupled with fritted glazing and sun shading devices to control the amount of direct sunlight entering the building
• Energy efficient HVAC systems

Notably, over 80% of occupied floor areas have direct views to the natural woodland setting, including within program spaces that are traditionally devoid of natural light like the gymnasium, natatorium, and fitness areas. Carefully planned views out from nearly every space in the building, along with areas for outdoor activities, provide city residents endless opportunities to engage with nature.

Project Details and Recognition

The facility was developed through comprehensive services including Programming, Site Analysis, Community Involvement, Sustainable Design, Interior Design, Full Design Services, and Building Information Modeling. The project has received several prestigious awards:

• AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Vision Award & Merit Award
• AIA Baltimore Good Design = Good Business Award
• Architizer A+ Awards Special Mention

Key Information

• Owner: Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks
• Main Facilities: Gymnasium, natatorium, exterior splash area, performance space, fitness area, dance studio, classroom.
• Outdoor Amenities: Outdoor basketball courts, picnic area, playground.