Each year, AZRE magazine’s RED Awards commemorates the meticulous work accomplished by the teams of companies who shepherd projects of all kinds from initial concept to final delivery. Each category represents the finest the industry has to offer — state-of-the-art education buildings, chic offices spaces, lavish hotels, modern apartments and so much more. Today, take a deeper look at the finalists for recreation project of the year.
The 2026 RED Awards will honor finalists and announce winners in 18 categories on Thursday, March 19 at the Embassy Suites Scottsdale. The year’s top developer, general contractor, architecture firm and subcontractor will also be celebrated.
The RED Awards VIP sponsor is Haydon Companies, the spotlight sponsor is Core Construction, the beverage sponsor is DP Electric, the dessert sponsor is Layton Construction, the step and repeat sponsor is Suntec Concrete, the valet sponsor is Stevens-Leinweber Construction, the giveaway sponsor is Willmeng Construction, the 360 photo booth sponsor is Ironmark Building Company and the floral sponsor is Arizona Escrow.
Tickets for the 2026 RED Awards can be found here.
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Here are the finalists for the Recreation project category:
Gilbert Water Tower Plaza
- General contractor: Willmeng Construction
- Architect: J2 Engineering and Environmental Design
- Owner: Town of Gilbert
- City: Gilbert
- Size: Approximately 1 acre
The Gilbert Water Tower Plaza renovation project involved a comprehensive upgrade of a landmark in the town’s Heritage District. The project modernized the space to better support community needs while preserving the iconic 1927 water tower.
Enhancements include a shaded, water-efficient splash pad, a recirculated water wall, and a shaded picnic grove. The project also added an event lawn, integrated seat walls with under-edge lighting, and a new restroom building that houses the pump house and IDF room. For visual appeal, the team updated the plaza’s landscaping and installed new LED strip lights on the tower to enhance nighttime visibility. Also, the iconic granite ball water feature was relocated to a focal point beneath the tower.
The project team encountered significant obstacles due to the site’s aging infrastructure. Initial examinations revealed that underground systems were outdated, and many required replacement parts that were no longer available on the market. A unique technical challenge arose when the Town requested that the tower’s LED lights remain powered during construction, despite the removal of original electrical conduits. To resolve this, the team engineered a temporary solar-powered battery system along with a dual-fuel generator. Because the plaza is situated in a busy commercial area, the team had to coordinate closely with local businesses to manage traffic safety and minimize operational disruptions. Despite these speed bumps, the project was completed in just over a year and delivered under budget.
Arizona Science Center Dorrance DOME
- General contractor: Ryan Companies US
- Architect: DLR Group
- Owner: Arizona Science Center
- Subcontractors: Integrity Electrical Services, JF Ellis Corporation, Dickens Quality Demolition, Design Drywall West, American Sound
- City: Phoenix
- Size: 2,464 square feet
The Dorrance DOME renovation project at the Arizona Science Center demonstrates innovation, collaboration and community impact. This 2,464-square-foot, multi-use planetarium integrates cutting-edge architecture, technology, and educational design to create a flexible venue for immersive presentations, interactive shows, and community events. Dorrance DOME features an 18-meter dome, 8K+ resolution and over 44 million LED lights. This space delivers a world-class visual experience while accommodating 205 seats with both fixed and removable options.
Despite challenges such as outdated as-built drawings and complex geometry, the project team demonstrated exceptional problem-solving and stakeholder collaboration. Safety was prioritized throughout construction, especially given the presence of children at the Science Center. Special considerations were made to allow for normal operations of the Science Center to continue, including performing work mostly at night after business hours. Additionally, our project team used creative techniques to get the necessary materials inside the planetarium for construction due to the space’s tight parameters.
The renovation modernized outdated technology, significantly enhancing visitor engagement and accessibility. Since opening, the Dorrance DOME has hosted several diverse programs, reinforcing its role as a hub for science education and community connection.
Rescue Oasis
- General contractor: Willmeng Construction
- Architect: LEA-Architects
- Owner: City of Surprise
- Subcontractors: Aqua Design International, Castle Steel, Dibble, Dig Studio
- City: Surprise
- Size: 49,530 square feet
The Surprise Rescue Oasis complex is a new, innovative public safety and recreation development in the fast-growing southwest portion of Surprise. Located on a 19-acre site near Cactus Road and Perryville Road, the complex includes four new facilities that were constructed simultaneously: Fire Station 309, Soak Station 309 Splash Pad, Rescue Oasis Park, and Oasis Swim Center. This unique co-location demonstrates Surprise’s commitment to enhancing both responsive emergency services and quality of life projects for its residents.
Fire Station 309 is the city’s ninth fire station and a state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the growing demand for service calls. Crucially, it houses the Surprise Incident Command Center, a specialized facility for realistic training simulations to enhance critical decision-making, communication and coordination in high-pressure situations.
The Oasis Swim Center is the city’s third public pool and features three bodies of water: a recreational pool with slides, a diving/warmup pool, and an 8-lane, 50-meter competitive pool capable of hosting local, national and collegiate meets. Adjacent to the aquatic center, Rescue Oasis Park offers a playground with climbing structures, a basketball court and a sand volleyball court. The Soak Station 309 Splash Pad provides a fun, firetruck-themed climbing structure with various water features, tying into the public safety theme of the complex.
The project presented significant challenges due to its ambitious approach of simultaneously constructing a public safety facility and recreational amenities on a single 19-acre site. One of the primary hurdles was the extremely aggressive timeline, compressing what would typically be a three-year project (one year design, two years construction) into just two years. This required overlapping design and construction phases. Compounding this, construction began with only 60% of the plans finalized on the park and aquatics side, leading to evolving design and budgeting during the build.
Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatics Center
- General contractor: Haydon Companies
- Architect: DWL Architects + Planners
- Owner: Town of Queen Creek
- Subcontractors: Shasta Industries, M.A.G. Construction, Division 3 Structures, Western Building Group, Wholesale Flooring
- City: Queen Creek
- Size: 68,672 square feet
The Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center (QCRAC), delivered as part of Frontier Family Park, represents an investment in community well-being and a response to not only the current recreational needs but the future of one of Arizona’s fastest-growing municipalities. Encompassing 92 acres and representing a $130 million investment, the complex was envisioned as far more than a traditional park. QCRAC and Frontier Family Park together form a comprehensive community destination designed to support wellness, play, connection and lifelong learning for residents of all ages and abilities.
The athletic complex includes six lighted ballfields, three multipurpose fields, 24 dedicated pickleball courts, two basketball courts, and two sand volleyball courts. Complementing these athletic amenities are a five-acre stocked fishing lake and a destination-level, inclusive playground designed to ensure children of all abilities can play and engage together. At the heart of the development, the 70,000-square-foot recreation center significantly expands Queen Creek’s community offerings. The facility features comprehensive fitness areas, multi-use classrooms, a teaching kitchen, child watch, a teen center, gymnasium space supporting multiple indoor sports and an indoor walking track.
Adjacent to the recreation center, the 100,000-square-foot aquatic center includes a competition pool, leisure pool, lazy river and water slides, accommodating everything from family recreation and swim lessons to competitive training and events. Together, these facilities provide year-round programming and services for thousands of residents.
Marana Aquatic & Recreation Center
- General contractor: CHASSE Building Team
- Architect: Architekton
- Owner: Town of Marana
- Subcontractors: Shasta Industries, Stark Electric, Sun Mechanical Contracting, Parsons Steel Builders, Universal Wallboard
- City: Marana
- Size: 126,832 square feet
The new Marana Aquatic & Recreation Center is a ground-up recreation campus designed to support wellness, family activity and year-round programming. Built to serve a fast-growing region, the project brings together a full suite of indoor and outdoor amenities that encourage movement, gathering, and community connection.
The center is anchored by a large recreational building featuring three full-size courts marked for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. Surrounding the courts is a 3-lane elevated indoor track, a fitness loft with a wide variety of equipment, dedicated group fitness studios, community rooms, child watch spaces, a teen gaming lounge, and multiple shared gathering areas. The building also includes shared locker rooms and key administrative and operational spaces that support daily activity on the campus.
Outdoors, the aquatic complex blends competitive and recreational uses. A 25-yard, 10-lane competition pool with diving well supports events and training, while the recreation pool, designed with a zero-edge entry, resistance channel, slides, play features, and shaded seating, creates an inviting, family-friendly environment. Rentable cabanas, a sun deck, and an event lawn expand the center’s ability to host community programming.
A signature feature of the project is the public art installation “Points in Time,” a large, illuminated piece that reflects 10,000 years of Marana’s cultural heritage. The artwork activates the exterior of the building, creating a sense of identity and pride for residents.
