
Mann Older Adult Center + Rivera Recreation Center
In the dense, post-industrial rowhouse neighborhoods of North Philadelphia, City recreation centers provide critical opportunities for community-based programs and physical activity. Mann/Rivera is a heavily used, and much-loved example, unusual for its combination of rec and older adult centers.
Organized around the re-establishment of the main lobby as a light-filled, multi-generational engagement space, the work included substantial interior and exterior renovations, as well as significant improvements to the 5+ acre site, including new playgrounds, playing fields, and a senior exercise garden.
The lobby’s original architectural expression is uncovered with new full-height fritted glazing, lighting and enhancement of visual connections to adjacent spaces.