Meet the Design Team
The City of Oakland selected Oakland-based Shah Kawasaki Architects (SKA) to design our new recreation center. SKA has a rich experience in designing meaningful projects for our community. They have completed numerous projects for the City of Oakland, including the Golden Gate Recreation Center and Studio 1.
Charles Porter Golden Gate Recreation Center
The Team
Alan Kawasaki, Principal, AIA
As an American of Japanese ancestry, Alan has had a special interest in how Asian design sensibilities have affected contemporary design. During his formal study of Japanese architecture, he was struck by how traditional garden architecture has been integrated with building design. The Lincoln Square Recreation Center is reflective of such traditions where a buildings interior and exterior can seamlessly be woven together. Alan was born in Berkeley, met his wife at Cal and raised their two sons in Orinda.
Youngchae Lee, Associate
Youngchae is the project manager and designer of the new Lincoln Recreation Center. Her portfolio includes numerous local and national landmarks such as Exploratorium, Cincinnati Music Hall, and NYU StudentLink Center. Lincoln Recreation Center is a special project that connects her love of gardens, art, AAPI community, and Oakland, where she lives with her family. The Lincoln Square Park community inspires her and she is honored to be part of the work to create a healthy, resilient, and joyful future for all.
In addition to the SKA project team, other members of the design team include:
Acoustics: Papadimos | Civil: BKF Engineers | Community Engagement: Tiffany Eng | Cost Estimator: Cumming | Enclosure: Terracon | Food service: Marshall Associates | Geotechnical: Terracon | Landscape: Merrill Morris Partners | Sustainability: AR Green | MEP: EdesignC Inc. | Structural: KPW Structural Engineers, Inc.
The Selection Process
In May of 2020, the Oakland Public Works published a request for proposals for architectural and engineering design services for the development, design and construction of our new recreation center. The City received twelve design proposals and a five member panel comprised of Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development and Oakland Public Works staff members narrowed the proposals down to a single design team. On March 16, 2021, the Oakland City Council awarded the design contract to Shah Kawasaki Architects (SKA), with funding from the Measure KK Series 2 Bond Fund and other City sources.