Deal for recreation center made with architects

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, April 6, 2000 | 10:24 a.m.

The firm that created the Black Mountain Recreation Center in Henderson now has an agreement to design a new recreation center at Allen Lane and Alexander Road in North Las Vegas within the next 18 to 20 months.

The North Las Vegas City Council approved the agreement with HSA Architects Inc. Wednesday to design the new center using the Henderson structure as a model.

The $414,000 agreement will cover the cost of architecture, engineering, putting the project out to bid and administration. The contract represents 5 percent of the total estimated cost of $7.8 million.

The size and price of the recreation center have increased since the county agreed in 1999 to share the cost. Originally the $5 million center was going to be modeled on the Desert Breeze Recreation Center, 8275 Spring Mountain Road, using its specifications and architect, Lucchesi Galati Architects Inc. The council members agreed last month that the Black Mountain concept would better suit residents.

With the agreement with HSA Architects, the project, which was conceived as a 22,000-square-foot center, will grow to 41,000 square feet.

Because the current estimated cost exceeds the city's available budget, staff reports noted, the center must be built in phases, which may delay construction of the swimming pool and some park amenities.

Councilman John Rhodes cast the lone vote against the agreement after hearing that the size and cost of the center had increased. Although the council had agreed weeks before to move forward with the Black Mountain concept, Rhodes said he "was not comfortable with that anymore," insisting that the city stay within its original $5 million budget.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith also told the council she had not realized that choosing the Black Mountain concept would mean an increase in cost.

The city will select a recreation floor plan from one of three existing variations of the Black Mountain center. The recommended plans will be presented at two town hall meetings to seek public input on what types of programs residents want at the new center.