By Sergio Yamada

Sergio Yamada is a Project Director in the RVi Scottsdale office. With more than 25 years of experience (24 years in the U.S. and three in Argentina), Yamada has in-depth knowledge of infusing creativity in a budget-friendly way, while meeting client goals through amenity centers.

When it comes to design and development, be it a 1,000-lot master planned community or a smaller-scale neighborhood, there is one component that all designers should have in mind from day one: amenity facilities. Whether it is a pickleball court, pool, walking trail, or seating area, amenities can be the difference between a project becoming a vibrant and engaged community or a collection of subdivisions.

I’ve spent years working with clients on projects of all sizes to identify priorities, understand goals, and make the client’s vision a reality. To maintain such a legacy of high standards and quality work, there are three priorities of amenity center design I keep top of mind throughout the project journey: client needs, creativity, and usability.

1. Identify what is most important to a client and align amenity facilities

When designing any community, it’s important to add features that will appeal to multiple lifestyles. Some residents with more active lifestyles may embrace the pools and fields, whereas others may prefer opportunities for gentle movement and relaxation, utilizing the seating areas, community gathering spaces, and captivating views. Another consideration is that a community thrives on communication. Where can people talk and get to know each other? Parks and play areas are ideal for young families as well as seniors with grandchildren. Pools, too, can serve multiple purposes. Some residents may want to utilize a lap pool, whereas others may be looking for the chance to relax in the sun with a good book. A community must embrace the flexibility of various offerings to ensure the amenities meet the end goal: serving the residents who will call it home. The more a developer can provide in both active and passive amenities, the more the development will ultimately appeal to future buyers.

2. Get creative

Beyond the must-have amenities, we also strive to build unique experiences for our clients to help their brand stand out. I’ve had the opportunity to visit a number of the Esplanade communities in Florida and experience some resort lifestyle amenities, including community centers and pools. A major characteristic of these communities is their offerings of curated, resident-centric experiences.

For example, RVi provided planning and design services for Esplanade Golf & Country Club of Naples. The Tuscan-themed design includes a comprehensive system of trails, incorporating more than 11 miles of trails made up of a 5+ mile loop trail, fitness trails, and wilderness trails. The program also incorporates sidewalks and linear parks into a network around the centralized resort-style amenity center. The amenity campus offers a blend of uses, including a culinary center, a learning center, a wellness facility with resort pool, poolside Bahama bar, golf and tennis pro shop, golf course, golf practice facility and aqua range, sports courts, dog park, and multi-use event lawn. Careful consideration was taken during the preliminary golf routing, enabling the course to have a seamless flow through the community.

One of my sketches of the pool area in a Florida Esplanade community.

3. Make sure what is created is useful and enjoyable

Just a few weeks ago, I visited a community amenity center our team designed years ago. I had the opportunity to ask the question that always weighs on my mind after a project is completed: Are the residents utilizing and enjoying the amenities and scenery we created? Fortunately, in that space, the answer was a resounding yes! At RVi, our goal is to create a beautiful space that pulls future residents together, but the number one priority is ensuring we meet the needs of the client and deliver the vision.

It’s important to consider all three of the above priorities throughout the design process to meet the needs of our client and the residents. Thankfully, experience has yielded expertise in balancing all priorities while keeping the client at the center of the conversation. I am proud of the work we’ve done in our master planned communities, and it’s always exciting to reconnect with previous clients and learn how we can serve them best in their future projects.