Community Center at Quail Hill
By Irvine City News staff
Irvine’s community centers, senior centers and nature centers are at the heart of what makes living in the city so special. Take a class, host a birthday party, enjoy a healthy lifestyle through recreation and sports, or just walk around and enjoy the open spaces and green places: residents can engage in all these activities and more at the several centers that are strategically located in most neighborhoods and villages, often in or near one of the city’s 19 community public parks.
In a few weeks, the newest community center will open in Quail Hill. Tucked on a hill with open space on two sides, the existing 17-acre Quail Hill Community Park and the edge of the residences on the others, the 12,500-square-foot Quail Hill Community Center will debut as one of the finest, most energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing centers in the city.
Designs for the new Quail Hill Community Center (which was originally designated as a nature center) include a local environment and ecosystem-themed adventure play area. The new center connects to the adjacent Quail Hill and Shady Canyon trails, which in turn connect to trails in Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park and Bommer Canyon. Construction plans indicate that the $8 million facility, set on a 3.8-acre site, will feature a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room, classrooms, dance/fitness room, a warming kitchen for catered events, staff offices and exterior spaces designed to extend the usable space.
Hikers and bikers on the Quail Hill Trail may have noted that a mound of rocks and boulders that long sat adjacent to the trail have been moved to the outdoor area behind the center, which looks to be one of the most intriguingly designed and landscaped outdoor public spaces at any of the city’s community centers.
The project includes a bio-filtration swale, a photovoltaic system and features other environmentally sound systems and construction practices and materials, and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. Irvine is home to more Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings than any other city in Orange County.
The 2010 remodeling of University Community Park and the addition of a 6,063-square-foot building to the existing community building resulted in that project achieving LEED Gold, the first LEED recognition for a city facility.
Hopefully, the Quail Hill Community Center will soon be added to the LEED list. We eagerly anticipate our first look at what appears to be a spectacular new center of community in our city. City websites indicate the opening will be on March 4. For more information, visit cityofirvine.org/specialevents or call 949-724-6606
In a few weeks, the newest community center will open in Quail Hill. Tucked on a hill with open space on two sides, the existing 17-acre Quail Hill Community Park and the edge of the residences on the others, the 12,500-square-foot Quail Hill Community Center will debut as one of the finest, most energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing centers in the city.
Designs for the new Quail Hill Community Center (which was originally designated as a nature center) include a local environment and ecosystem-themed adventure play area. The new center connects to the adjacent Quail Hill and Shady Canyon trails, which in turn connect to trails in Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park and Bommer Canyon. Construction plans indicate that the $8 million facility, set on a 3.8-acre site, will feature a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room, classrooms, dance/fitness room, a warming kitchen for catered events, staff offices and exterior spaces designed to extend the usable space.
Hikers and bikers on the Quail Hill Trail may have noted that a mound of rocks and boulders that long sat adjacent to the trail have been moved to the outdoor area behind the center, which looks to be one of the most intriguingly designed and landscaped outdoor public spaces at any of the city’s community centers.
The project includes a bio-filtration swale, a photovoltaic system and features other environmentally sound systems and construction practices and materials, and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. Irvine is home to more Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings than any other city in Orange County.
The 2010 remodeling of University Community Park and the addition of a 6,063-square-foot building to the existing community building resulted in that project achieving LEED Gold, the first LEED recognition for a city facility.
Hopefully, the Quail Hill Community Center will soon be added to the LEED list. We eagerly anticipate our first look at what appears to be a spectacular new center of community in our city. City websites indicate the opening will be on March 4. For more information, visit cityofirvine.org/specialevents or call 949-724-6606