A Denver Historical Landmark, the 20th Street Rec Center was originally built in 1908 as a public bath house and gymnasium and was enlarged in the 1920s. No major renovations had been performed since that time until OZ's involvement with the project. OZ Architecture evaluated the needs of the users, owners and neighbors to determine a program and final design for the renovation of this facility. Due to the limited budget, the designs were presented to the client as a "shopping list" with a consensus of several disparate groups determining the final design. The design includes a historical renovation of the exterior and interior, swimming pool upgrades, new locker rooms, free weight room, boxing ring and training area, cardio-vascular exercise area, aerobics area, fine arts room and administrative offices. To meet ADA code compliance, fire alarms, sprinklers, a second exit, an elevator, ramps, and new doors were also added. In addition to these improvements, the building received a grant from the Colorado Historical Society for recreating the original cornice. The building's mechanical system was also completely replaced adding ventilation, air conditioning and new plumbing throughout. The systems were carefully routed and coordinated to fit within the historic shell without disturbing the sensitive areas of the building.
