18 Jul Well and Good Newsletter 2024 – Quarter 2
LETTER FROM THE CEO
Hello Friends! I hope this message finds you well. 😊
I’m thrilled to share some exciting updates from OLC as we move into summer!
Brian and I just returned from seeing the exciting 2024 Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis. We were invited by our friends at Myrtha Pools and Counsilman-Hunsaker. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity! Can’t wait for Paris!
Brian and I also recently attended the 2024 Parks and Recreation Summit in Arizona. There is lots of activity in the recreation and aquatics arena across the US. OLC is currently working on both public and private recreation and aquatic facility projects in Colorado, Florida, Wyoming, and North Dakota. If you need some help with an upcoming project, or just have questions, give us a call!
Our Denver interiors team has also been hard at work. You may have seen Brenda Amsberry and Natalie Mediate recently at the NEWH Regional Tradeshow in Denver, and Brenda just returned from the Hotel and Resort Design South event in Miami. They are working on Hotel 1888 in Glenwood Springs, which is the conversion of the Spa of the Rockies into a 15-room historic boutique hotel, as well as The Glenwood Springs Lodge renovation of 107 guestrooms and suites.
Moving forward, our architects Maged Elsheikh and Sam Elsheikh will be attending the Florida Recreation & Park Association 2024 Annual Conference in Orlando at the end of August. Maged will be speaking on Designing for Extreme Heat, and Sam will be speaking on Designing for Mental Health. We hope some of you will join us.
We attend these events to stay up to date on current trends in our industry, as well as to see what the future holds.
OLC is currently wrapping up multiple feasibility studies for various recreation and aquatic facilities. In our Denver office, we have the Eagle Pool Replacement and Frisco’s Slopeside Hall under construction, and several projects underway with the City of Manitou Springs. The Orlando office is kicking off the Palm Beach County Four Points Emergency Operations Connector project and is working on several projects in Manatee County under their On-Call. The Burns Road Community Center and Wellington Aquatics Center are also underway and they were just awarded a new on-call services contract by the City of Largo. Other new projects include:
The Trails Recreation Center, Centennial CO – Renovation of entire recreation center, including lobby, circulation, communal areas, daycare, multi-use rooms, locker rooms, aerobics studio, art studio, gym, and offices.
The Boulder Country Club, Boulder CO – Master Plan for aquatics, gym, racquet sports, wellness, dining, community areas, and summer camps.
Newtown Athletic Club, Newtown PA – Addition of men’s locker room spa and all member Euro Spa.
Activate Senior Wellness, Multiple Locations – New senior wellness concept within senior housing to include: indoor pool, gym, brain enhancement, relaxation, treatment rooms, and salon.
As always, our Egypt office was instrumental in the design and production for all of these projects. We collaborate with their team early and often so that we can meet any schedule! We’ll be keeping an eye on all of the Egyptian athletes in Paris as well!
As summer begins, our sights turn towards all of these new exciting projects and opportunities that continue to help connect us with our valued community and friends. I would like to personally thank you all for your repeated support and engagement. Stay tuned for further OLC news to come!
Be Well,
Robert McDonald, CEO, Senior Principal
& Everyone at OLC
OLC HIGHLIGHT
Hervey Lavoie
A little about Hervey…
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture, and how does that inspiration influence your work today?
As a 14-year-old, I watched my catholic parish build a new, modern church and I met the architect who designed it. The profession looked like a great combination of art and science, which were my two favorite subjects in school. The rest is history.
What advice would you give to students aspiring to enter the field of architecture today?
Focus on developing critical thinking skills and problem solving.
Looking forward, what kind of legacy do you hope to leave in the field of architecture?
Buildings that continue to effectively serve their purposes long after I am gone.
What’s the most unusual or unexpected request you’ve ever received from a client, and how did you address it?
Design a real log cabin that does not look like a traditional log cabin.
Can you share a story about a project that was particularly memorable for you, whether due to its challenges, impact, or personal significance?
Being invited to Japan to design athletic clubs for central sports changed my life in so many ways. I made many friends in Japan including my partner Kosho. I traveled all over Japan, China, Korea, and Singapore for business. My Japanese client became a business partner at Meridian Golf Club. I learned quite a bit of the Japanese language and culture.
FEATURED PROJECTS
NEWTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB
Newtown, PA
This 3,560 SF expansion to the original Well Lounge, created in 2019, features high-end finishes, in a casual environment. Full aesthetic services and the latest technology are offered.
PALM COAST SOUTHERN RECREATION CENTER
Palm Coast, FL
OLC was retained by the city to provide the master plan. The resulting master plan included adding 5 Hydro courts to complement the existing 10 courts for a total of 15 Hydro courts. In addition to a stadium court with 400 people seating capacity, the center includes 6 hard courts, 4 Junior tennis courts and a training hitting wall. Also included are 17 pickleball courts, of which 7 are covered, with plans to cover an additional 6 courts. The master plan contemplated a 2-phase approach.
Upon approval of the master plan, OLC was hired to design Phase One, including the Southern Recreation Center, an 11,500 SF indoor/outdoor recreation building, that includes a large social lobby, outdoor seating area with views of tennis and pickleball courts, men’s and women’s locker room, food and beverages kitchen and bar, community multipurpose rooms and viewing balconies, and administrative and support functions.
As part of Phase One construction, 12 Pickle ball courts, 6 of which are undercover, have been added. The new Southern Recreation Center will also be connected to the Trail Head facility and act as a multi-function recreation hub for the southern part of the city.
2024 OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
OLC’s CEO Robert McDonald (left) and Brian Beckler (right) attended the
2024 Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis!
OLC FAMILY ADDITIONS
OLC is extremely excited to announce the arrival of two of OLC’s newest family members! Please join us in welcoming Tania Parada’s baby girl Leah (left) and Josibel Pena’s baby boy Mario (right)! Both of the families and the babies are home and doing well!
Within our Egypt office we are very excited to announce the engagement of Anton and Christina (right), and Omar’s (left) upcoming wedding in July 2024! We wish them both nothing but happiness as they embark on their life journeys together!
OLC DESIGN PORTFOLIO
OLC’s 2024 Design Portfolio
Click below to check out OLC’s latest 2024 Design Portfolio and browse all of our latest projects!
SONG OF THE SEASON
My Home – Myles Smith
Check out these new lyrics by Myles Smith to enjoy during your
Summer Break!
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