scott.huish//November 4, 2021//

Location: HillsboroThe Hidden Creek Community Center serves the needs of an expanding and diverse community, providing numerous venues for fitness activities and group exercise. It features a two-court gymnasium; a Kids鈥 Club with onsite childcare; two fitness rooms; a cardio/weight center; and locker rooms.
Its additional user amenities include multiple rooms and spaces that serve a variety of functions, such as community programs, educational classes and special events.
Built on 20 acres owned by the City of Hillsboro, the 51,500-square-foot, two-story facility is its first mass timber structure. Utilizing a cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural system, it is a stunning example of functional, cost-effective and sustainable design.
The CLT system was optimized to allow for the necessary spans in the two-court gymnasium without sacrificing the 18-foot cantilever at the entry. With glulam beams spanning north-south, exposed timber decking ceilings and large glass windows, the interior spaces seamlessly connect the adjacent meadow and Douglas Fir forest with the built environment. Large timber beams push the second floor鈥檚 glass-walled cardio center out over the main entry.
Expansive, unobstructed arterial hallways frame views of the forest and meadow from deep within the building. Its metal clad exterior is reminiscent of tree bark to further help it blend in with nature. The facility also leads into adjacent walking and hiking trails. A surface parking lot was built adjacent to the facility.
As a response to the environment, the energy-efficient facility features many sustainable elements. The exterior courtyard on the building鈥檚 south side is partially covered by a 鈥渂ifacial鈥 solar array. It absorbs both sunlight from above and reflected light from the concrete patio below.
Additional sustainable features include energy-saving LED lighting, radiant floor heating, balanced daylighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The community center also is enrolled in the Path to Net Zero program.