Design Requirements

The coalition group stressed these main qualities for a new complex:   that it be very functional and adaptable to a variety of uses, have good acoustics, have good technology capabilities, be low maintenance, be energy efficient, and  be of good sound, nice - but not overly expensive - facility, and of course be code compliant.
 
  • Requirements for Main Event Center​
First and foremost, the new facility and surrounding grounds will all be ADA accessible, including new ADA parking spaces adjacent to the building. Within the new facility, there will be both an event center and a conference center. The event center will be a multi-purpose space used for community recreational sports, concerts, conventions, and trade shows. Because the event center will be utilized by so many different user groups with different needs, it is important that the building is constructed out of durable materials. The building walls will be clad with an acoustical metal panel, to both protect the walls and help with sound dampening. While the floor will be poured and sealed concrete, the City of Monte Vista is purchasing a removable floor for sports including basketball, volleyball, pickle ball, and badminton to ensure the longevity of the floor’s surface outside of this proposal. These removable floors will be stored in a large storage area adjacent to the event space, along with tables, chairs and maintenance equipment. The storage will be tucked under the existing grandstands and serve both the event and conference spaces.
 
When the event center is set up for conventions and trade shows, there will space for more than 105 vendor booths. Currently, there is only space for 90 booths, and depending upon event, this is not enough space. Vendors will have access to exterior truck loading docks for easy set up and removal of their booths.
 
The event center will also have access to restrooms and a warming kitchen. The restrooms are placed adjacent to the entrance to provide the best access for those attending events or just needing to use the facilities. These restrooms will be built to code and adequately serve large crowds when necessary. The warming kitchen will be used for catered events and as a support space for the food truck court just outside the event center.  A vestibule planned on the west side is to assist on protecting the entrance into the event center from the extreme high winds the Valley experiences.
 
  • Requirements for Conference Center
The new conference center is designed with flexibility in mind. With a large conference room that can seat more than 450 people, and four smaller meeting rooms that can seat 75 people each, the new facility will be able to host larger events and in turn bring in more revenue for the community. The smaller meeting rooms are created with movable acoustical partition walls, which can be opened to form larger meeting rooms or to be used for break-out sessions for larger conferences. All conference and meeting rooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art IT capabilities to support a multitude of events. Bisecting the large conference room and smaller meeting rooms, is a spacious lobby for gathering and displays. The lobby also connects the event center with the east entrance. Adjacent supporting spaces include adequate restrooms to meet the code and a warming kitchen for catered events and as a support space for the food truck court just outside the event center. The conference center will have a poured concrete floor, perhaps colored, for easy maintenance and cleaning purposes, and the walls and ceiling will be treated with acoustical panels to minimize sound transmission.
 
Architectural Design Summary
The new facility is comprised of a multi-purpose event center and conference center.
  • Multi-purpose Event Center Design Will include:
The multi-purpose event center, like its name, will serve a broad section of the community and interests, including youth recreation sports, Ski-Hi Stampede and associated Monte Vista events, Monte Vista Crane Festival, and the Potato and Grain Agricultural Conference and Trade show, among others. It is important that the new facility be able to adapt to its many user, and stand-up to wear and tear. Additionally, the new facility is only part of the puzzle; it fits into a larger complex, with many events that take place outside on the premises. The multi-purpose event building addresses the needs of these events by providing restrooms accessed from both the interior and exterior of the building. These particular restrooms are divided, where half of the fixtures are accessed from the interior of the building and the other half from the exterior. The two sides are connected with a door that can be left open for use of more fixtures, if necessary, for the event. There are two ADA showers in each of the men’s and women’s restrooms which can be locked separately from the restrooms. 
 
A new ticket booth with two ADA restrooms has also been designed. Pulling the ticket booth away from the event center, allows guests to gather outside of the new building, instead of congregating inside and causing congestion near the new entrance. Housed within the ticket booth will also be an office for staff and maintenance personnel.
 
Rather than a full commercial kitchen in the event center, the group planned for a food truck area to be located  west of the new ticket booth. Currently, events utilize food trucks, but not in a safe, dedicated space.  This would allow for local businesses to promote their goods and services, with less maintenance and wear-and-tear on the event center.  A 1,350+  sq.ft. picnic shelter is proposed for a gathering area to provide shelter and shade for attendees.
 
Moving inside the multi-purpose event building, it is necessary that the space remain open, so as to have more flexibility for the users:
  • Athletics
    • 2 basketball courts, 4 volleyball courts, 8 badminton courts and 8 pickleball courts
    • Removable floor for sporting events to protect the finish on the concrete floor beneath*
  • Foldout bleachers for ample spectator seating. The bleachers will be stowed against the north wall when not in use. *                                         *The cost of these are not in this proposal
  • New Storage under the Existing Grandstands
    • This will serve the event center and store the removable flooring, tables and chairs, maintenance equipment, etc.
  • Trade shows and conventions - Large area for vendor set-up and good sound equipment
  • Festivals
    • Monte Vista Crane Festival:  Large area for vendor set-up and educational space
    • Access to space for over 105 booths, plus necessary electrical outlets for booths
  • Ski-Hi Stampede:  This event utilizes the most of the 34 acres (except for City Shop area) for concerts, dances, rodeo, and carnival
  • Concerts
  • Professional stages are rented with sound and light equipment for major concerts.  Underground electrical was added in 2008 for concert needs.
  • Essential facility designation:  If a natural disaster or other event were to occur where community members were displaced from their homes, the multi-purpose event building would also double as an essential facility to provide shelter for people. The west restrooms have been carefully designed to include adequate fixtures and ADA accessible bathing facilities. The building will be fully sprinklered and equipped with a fire alarm system, meeting all necessary code regulations for an essential facility.
 
Conference Center Design to Include:
Like the Multi-purpose Event Center, the Conference Center is designed with many different user groups in mind. Stakeholders wanted a space that would adapt to its user. With movable partition walls in the small meeting rooms and multiple arrangements for seating in the larger conference room, users have many options to fit their unique needs. Additionally, the conference center can be rented out by two different organizations at the same time, with a group in the larger conference room and another in the smaller meeting rooms. With a lobby space bisecting the conference and meeting rooms and bespoke acoustical wall paneling systems, groups will be able to carry out their business, while not disturbing one another. The large conference room and the smaller meeting rooms have equitable access to:
  • Adequate restrooms - Like the restrooms on the west side of the building, these restrooms can be accessed from two sides, the Multi-purpose Event Center and the Conference Center, with the ability in the women’s restroom, to lock off half of the facilities, if groups do not need the full facility.
  • Warming kitchen - Guests have the ability to use it for catering needs and prepared food. The warming kitchen is equipped with ample storage, including refrigeration, and counter space for serving.
  • State of the art technology - the large conference room and small meeting rooms will have access to technology including projectors, proper sound equipment and WIFI, etc. - all necessary for presentations
  • Separate entrance - Located on the east side of the new building, this entrance leads guests into a covered vestibule first, before taking them into the main lobby. The lobby serves the large conference room and smaller meeting rooms, while also providing access and linkage to the event center, especially important if the two spaces are being used for the same event.
  • A lobby for gathering and sponsor tables.
 
Users of the Conference Center will include:
  • Corporate events, education seminars, galas, wedding and anniversary receptions, workshops, and conferences.  In an emergency situation it could be utilized as the “war room” for administrative personnel while the event center is utilized as the shelter
 
Site Improvements
The work on the new building facility will not be done without also addressing the adjacent site conditions. Making sure the site is fully ADA accessible is at the top of the list. New ADA parking spots in close proximity to the building, new ADA ramps, and use of ADA-friendly paving materials will be implemented to ensure total accessibility. Site drainage will also be addressed early on. Currently, the existing building sits about 2’ below the crown of the street. The finished floor of the new building will be brought up to sit higher than the crown of the street, so as to provide positive drainage away from the building. A retention pond may also be implemented to mitigate drainage issues. As the necessary site improvements are completed, stakeholders intend to look at other areas of the site, including the planting of new, low maintenance, drought tolerant landscaping. There are also plans for a food truck area, just west of the new building, which will serve multiple indoor and outdoor events. A historic picnic structure is also being considered to provide a covered gathering space for events. For those who travel from out of town for events at the new facility, an RV park is planned with full hook-ups.
 
Building Materials/Features
The new facility will be a metal Behlen S-Span building set on a concrete base. Interior finish materials will be chosen based on durability, acoustical considerations, and ease of maintenance. The building will employ high efficiency mechanical systems and will be well insulated to meet the 2006 IBC and IECC codes enforced by the Rio Grande County Building Department. 
For more details, check out these pages: Current Plans - Project Underway! - Summary of the Project -Overview of the Project - Design Process - Documents