| George B. Fitch Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility | |
| Awards: |
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| Start Date: | October 1, 2006 |
| Stop Date: | July 7, 2007 |
| Architect: |
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| Location: | Warrenton, Virginia, US |
| Owner: | Town of Warrenton |
| Cost: | 22 million USD |
| Floor Area: | 59738square feet |
| Floor Count: | 3 |
| Structural Engineer: | Elliot, Leboeuf, & Associates |
| Services Engineer: | B2E Consulting |
| Civil Engineer: | Rickmond Engineering Inc. |
| Main Contractor: | Forrester Construction Co. |
| Grounds Area: | 64acres |
The George B. Fitch Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility, commonly acronymized as The WARF, is a town-owned recreation center and accompanying park in Warrenton, Virginia.[1] The Town of Warrenton Parks and Recreation Department is situated within the facility.[2]
The facility offers a variety of memberships and day-passes to individuals based on their residency.[3] [4] The WARF also hosts various fitness classes and special events for holidays and reservations.
The WARF opened in September, 2007 after 18 months of construction.[5] [6]
The WARF temporarily closed to the public in March, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The closure followed orders from the Virginia Governor and the U.S. President regarding the pandemic. The WARF reopened in July, 2020.[8]
A graduate student from George Mason University surveyed WARF members in 2021 to determine their desire to return to the WARF after the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a required independent study course.[9]
The building's design was inspired by historical farming of the Virginia Piedmont region, on which the WARF is situated.[10] Because of this, the building has a vestibule inspired by a grain silo, a broad gable roof inspire by farmhouses, and a warm interior pallet largely consisting of exposed wood.
The recreation center consists of three floors: a lower floor, a main floor, and two penthouses. The main floor consists largely of a reception area, spectator seating, a cylindrical vestibule, fitness rooms, and office space. The lower floor contains a 364,000 gallon competition pool, a 68,000 gallon leisure pool, a 3,600 gallon hot tub, and a water slide.[11]
The building was built on a large piece of land, with various rectangular playing fields situated around it. Additionally, there are a variety of paved walking paths, a year-round outdoor ice skating rink, a playground, and a skateboard park on the grounds.
The facility and its contractors have won two awards.[12] The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Metro Washington awarded Forrester Construction Company with a 2008 Excellence in Construction Award for the WARF.[13] The Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) Northern Virginia awarded Forrester Construction Company a 2008 Award of Merit for the WARF, as well.