Southern Area Aquatics & Recreation Complex (SAARC)

Owner: MD National Capital Park & Planning Commission

Architect: Hughes Group Architects

Location: Brandywine, MD

Size: 76,295 SF

The Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex is a two story, 76,295 SF ground up community facility built for Prince George’s County to expand year-round recreation, fitness, and aquatics programming. The building includes a competition pool, leisure pool with slide and play features, a full gymnasium, multipurpose rooms, childcare space, community meeting areas, fitness rooms, and an elevated running track that overlooks the courts and activity spaces below.

Construction required careful coordination of complex aquatics systems, including filtration equipment, waterproofing, structural steel spanning the natatorium, and humidity and temperature control to protect interior finishes. The first floor houses the natatorium, gym, locker rooms, support spaces, and program rooms, while the second floor provides fitness areas, community space, and the three-lane running track. Site improvements throughout the surrounding park were also part of the work.