Public facilities are an essential part of a healthy, thriving community. In a recent survey, the Center for Active Design (CfAD) found that people that live near popular parks report a more significant community connection and satisfaction with local government. Community event spaces bring ideas, culture, and entertainment to everyone in the community, including those that might not otherwise have access to them.
The Benefits of Community Facilities
When public spaces are designed well and regularly maintained, the people who live in the community receive many benefits, from better health to improved economic opportunities.
Promote the Health of the Community
Research has shown that public spaces can promote the health of community members. When people gather together in public venues, the social ties that form provide a support system, which can help improve the mental health of the residents. A stronger social network also reduces social isolation, which has a positive effect on mental health. Finally, open spaces encourage physical activity, improving both mental and physical health.
Attract Businesses
Parks and other community spaces can improve the economic climate by attracting business and tourism. Studies show that neighborhoods with access to parks can see increased property values, tourism, and new businesses. The parks draw the people, and the people attract the businesses.
Improving neglected spaces and existing facilities can dramatically increase civic trust and involvement. Maintained facilities are more welcoming and attract more people. When people routinely use a space, they lend a feeling of safety that unmaintained buildings do not have. Low-maintenance and attractive spaces are a worthwhile investment when the return on investment is a thriving community. When residents of a society put effort into the success of their community, businesses will want to invest there, because people like this make good employees.
Reduce Crime
Community facilities provide activities for young people to keep them engaged and less likely to engage in antisocial behavior. Well-designed and well-maintained spaces give a community a greater sense of pride, and residents are more likely to keep litter and vandalism to a minimum.
Features of Good Facilities
Well-designed community facilities include many considerations. The facilities should meet the needs of the community they are intended for and involve input from community members during the planning phase. The spaces should be welcoming and accessible by all. Entrances should be attractive, with signage that encourages involvement.
Community facilities should be healthy, safe, and clean. Building materials should not include hazardous materials, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or other threats to health. Well-maintained and clean facilities demonstrate to the community that they are being paid attention to and, by extension, are safer.
Public spaces should be flexible and designed for multipurpose use. The more people that a facility serves, the more of the community that will be involved.
The Benefits of Fabric Structures for Community Facilities
WeatherPort®™ designs modular and portable fabric buildings that can help communities improve their parks, event spaces, and other community facilities. Our fabric structures have been used for the following community facilities:
- Event pavilions for weddings, meeting spaces, arts and crafts fairs, and large gatherings
- Pool enclosures
- Covered outdoor seating areas, including covered picnic areas
- Retail space for cafes and other food services
- Enclosures for indoor recreation such as tennis, batting cages, and playground shelters
- Family entertainment centers
- Grounds and maintenance facilities, including equipment storage
- Covered parking spaces
- Stage covers
With our 50 years of experience designing custom-built structures, we at WeatherPort can help create the perfect community center to meet your specific needs.
Permanent or Temporary Structures for Parks and Events
Some facilities only need temporary structures because they move locations on a regular basis or are only needed seasonally. The assembly of fabric structures requires a fraction of the time compared to traditional buildings. Depending on the building model and size, a WeatherPort fabric structure can be setup in a matter of minutes to days instead of months or years. Once the facility is set up, it can be left in place and used as a year-round, permanent structure, taken down for seasonally storage, or moved to a new location.
Fabric structures from WeatherPort have minimal foundation requirements and can be installed on virtually any level surface. Unlike traditional buildings, our fabric structures do not require extensive concrete foundations. WeatherPort building systems can be safely anchored to nearly every ground type allowing you the freedom to setup your community center where it is needed most.
Free Span Buildings Designed for Maximum Accessibility
The free span design of our fabric buildings allows maximum use of interior space, without the need for support columns to get in the way, and designed to provide easy access to all community members.
WeatherPort building solutions can be designed from 8 feet to 150 feet wide and customized to any height and length. Create a multipurpose building capable of hosting large events and then partitioned for small and individual activities.
Well-Designed Community Buildings Create Welcoming Gathering Spaces
All WeatherPort building systems are engineered to meet building codes for safety. We manufacture the individual components using the highest-quality materials to ensure long-lasting durability in any climate.
The framing systems of our buildings are made of either aircraft-grade, lightweight aluminum or high-strength galvanized steel designed to withstand environments with high winds and heavy snow. For areas with high humidity or in coastal locations with corrosive sea spray, we offer an optional in-house powder coating for extra corrosion protection.
In our more than 50 years of proven experience, we have continued to develop and improve on the ability to create the longest lasting tensioned fabric membranes. Compared to other fabric covers, our membranes are made from a proprietary blend of materials that offer a greater abrasion resistance, will not rot, are mold- and mildew-resistant, UV stabilized (not coated) to withstand prolonged exposure in areas with high solar loads, and exceed the fire safety requirements outline in the California Code of Regulations for membrane structures.
Our fabric buildings can be equipped with any of our proprietary insulation systems, increasing energy efficiency and used to quickly create a comfortable interior environment even in extreme hot or cold temperatures. WeatherPort fabric structures have been used around the world, from 17,500-foot elevation base camp of Mount Everest to the scorching heat of the Danakil Depression of Northern of Ethiopia.
When designing a community center, it’s important to create a bright and welcoming interior space. Reduce energy usage during the day by using sunlight with our optional translucent skylight material. Specifically designed to diffuse sunlight, WeatherPort’s skylight material creates a warm and welcoming space for community events and activities.
Plug-and-Play Lighting and Electrical Systems
WeatherPort offers plug-and-play lighting and electrical systems designed to seamlessly integrate with any of our existing or new fabric structures. We have configurations in both 50 and 60 Hz. Just as we engineer building systems that are designed for quick installations, our engineers have taken the same approach to develop plug-and-play lighting and electrical systems that are fast and easy to install without the need for an expensive electrician.¹
Contact Us to Design Your Community Facility
Contact one of our friendly building specialists today to get started on designing your community’s next facility. Whether it’s a pool enclosure for a community pool or aquatic center, a covered picnic shelter, shade structures, event pavilion, or a stage cover for outdoor performances, we can make the perfect fabric building solution for you.
We offer a near endless selection of building models, options, colors, and logo printing capabilities to make your building a one-of-a-kind community center that will provide decades of enjoyment.
Get us today!
Call: 1-970-399-5909
Email: info@weatherport.com
Online Inquiry: contact form
¹A certified electrician may be required to connect the electrical distribution panel to shore power or local power utility. Please check with your local or state requirements.
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