PAL COMMUNITY CENTER

The Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation operates the PAL Community Center situated on a seven-acre public park. Community residents walk to the center where volunteers from the Maryland State Police mentor and assist with youth programs. The center is also available for community events, meetings, and adult education classes. The building includes game/activity rooms, an arts and crafts room, a fitness area, a computer lab, a gymnasium and a licensed day care center. Northern light filters through clerestory windows into the corridors and lobby. Varied energy-efficient lighting highlights the durable, yet bold colors and brightly patterned floors and walls. A major design consideration was the openness and clarity of the buildings’ internal circulation, allowing for a minimal number staff to visually monitor multiple levels of activity.