G.T. Bray Recreation Center receives honorable mention at regional awards luncheon

  • Mar 25, 2011

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 25, 2011) – Manatee County’s new G.T. Bray Recreation Center recently received honorable mention distinctions at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s 19th Annual Future of the Region Awards.

Each year the awards luncheon highlights projects and programs that exemplify regionalism, and recognizes outstanding achievement and contribution which benefit the regional community. The new G.T. Bray facility won honorable mention in the Cultural/Sports /Recreation category.


G.T. Bray Park Recreation Center is Manatee’s newest “green” facility, a jewel at the heart of Manatee County’s public parks system. The new facility is one of Manatee County’s first LEED-Certified buildings. The facility has incorporated many construction features that will result in a reduction in operating costs of up to 25 percent when compared to the costs to operate the former administration and recreation buildings.


“My whole goal when we were designing the center was fitness and wellness with an emphasis on the environment, healthy living and going green,” said Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Turner. “We wanted to bring the outside in, and that’s why there are so many earth tones and windows facing the outside everywhere. There’s plenty of landscaping outside every window, so when you’re working out or doing cardio, you’ll feel like you’re outside.”

 

The facility’s many environmentally friendly aspects include:

 

• A reflective membrane roofing system

 

• Double pane windows that are insulated, low emissivity and impact resistant

 

• A 16 SEER energy efficient air conditioning system

 

• Reclaimed water is used in the toilets rather than potable water

 

• Motion detectors were included in the lighting system so that offices, restrooms and meeting rooms remain dark when unoccupied.

 

• Includes insulated, reflective, acoustical ceiling tiles to decrease lighting requirements and increase the A/C operating efficiency.

 

• Florida Friendly-certified landscaping will provide natural shading with a reduced irrigation requirement.

 

For more information on G.T. Bray Recreation Center, call Recreation Division Manager Carolyn Angiolillo at (941) 742-5923, ext. 6008.