North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction of the Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex reached a major milestone Monday as contractor Samet Corp. placed the final structural steel beam atop the future community hub.
The topping-out ceremony marked the completion of the building’s structural frame for the 65,000-square-foot facility, which is designed to combine recreation, library, educational and social service functions under one roof. Located in Greensboro, the project is intended to serve residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the existing Windsor Recreation Center, Vance Chavis Library and Nocho Park while expanding access to community resources and public services.
When completed, the facility will feature an indoor aquatics center with a lazy river, water slide and lap swimming areas, along with a gymnasium, walking track, fitness spaces, teaching kitchen, maker spaces and dedicated areas for children, teens and seniors. Flexible programming rooms and multipurpose spaces are also included in the design.
The project is being developed through a partnership involving Greensboro Public Libraries, Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Guilford County, which plans to provide on-site public health and social service programs.
County services available at the complex are expected to include Medicaid eligibility assistance, Food and Nutrition Services, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs, public health education and Cooperative Extension programming focused on nutrition, wellness and food security.
Project officials said more than 4,000 residents participated in community engagement efforts that helped shape the facility’s design and programming.
The building’s interior is designed with open sightlines, flexible spaces and movable furnishings to accommodate a range of activities and community needs. Library amenities will include traditional collections, lending kiosks, maker spaces, writer’s lounges and age-specific learning environments.
Construction plans also include improvements to Nocho Park. The renovation will replace existing restrooms, upgrade a multipurpose athletic field to regulation size and install a nature-based playground. Features will also include a covered basketball pavilion, amphitheater, expanded pathways, relaxation areas, sustainable landscaping and stormwater management infrastructure.
The site will also include new gathering spaces with picnic areas, seating, shade structures and upgraded lighting throughout the park. City officials have described the project as a new model for community-centered development, bringing together recreation, education, health services and public space within a single destination.
With structural steel now complete, construction crews will continue work on the building envelope, interior systems and site improvements as the project advances toward completion.