Building West Memphis Recreation and Aquatics Center: A Conversation on Collaboration, Speed and Trust
Across the country, cities are rethinking what community infrastructure can be. Recreation centers are no longer just places to play sports. They are economic engines, health infrastructure, and community anchors.
In West Memphis, Arkansas, that vision is becoming reality.
After years of planning and voter support for a municipal bond initiative, the West Memphis Recreation and Aquatics Center will soon break ground at Tilden Rodgers Park. The project represents a major investment in quality of life for the city’s roughly 24,000 residents while positioning West Memphis as a regional destination for sports, wellness, and community events.
The 76,000 square foot facility will feature five tournament-ready basketball courts that convert to volleyball or pickleball, an eight-lane competition pool, therapy pool, fitness center, meeting rooms, indoor walking track, and concessions. The courts can also transition into convention and event space, expanding the facility’s potential economic impact beyond athletics.
Project Luong served as the project architect, working in a design build partnership with ARCO/Murray.
To explore how the project came together so quickly and efficiently, we sat down with Alec Luong, Managing Partner at Project Luong, and Jeff Schnoebelen, Sports Lead at ARCO/Murray, to discuss the collaboration behind the West Memphis Recreation and Aquatics Center.
A Conversation with Alec Luong and Jeff Schnoebelen
Starting with a Shared Goal
Jeff Schnoebelen:
When we first started discussing this project with the team, it was clear the City of West Memphis had a big vision. They wanted a facility that could serve their residents today but also support growth and tourism for years to come.
The challenge was delivering that vision responsibly. Municipal projects have to balance ambition with cost certainty and schedule discipline. That is where design build becomes powerful when done correctly.
Alec Luong:
Absolutely. From the beginning the city made it clear that this facility was about more than just building a recreation center. It was about investing in their community.
You are talking about kids learning to swim, families having a place to gather, tournaments bringing visitors to the city, and residents having access to health and wellness opportunities.
So, the question for us was: how do we deliver all of that while staying responsible to the taxpayers who funded the project?
That is where the design build relationship with ARCO became essential.
Architect Led Design Build
Schnoebelen:
There are a lot of different interpretations of design build. Sometimes it becomes contractor driven. Sometimes it becomes a way to compress design fees.
That is not what happened here.
What made this project work is that it was an architect led design build process. Project Luong remained the primary interface with the city and led the design vision. Our role was to bring construction expertise into the conversation early so decisions could be made with real cost and constructability insight.
Luong:
That early involvement changes everything.
Traditionally, architects design a building and then the contractor prices it. Sometimes you find out late in the process that something cannot be built the way you imagined or that it costs significantly more than expected.
With ARCO involved from the start, we were able to test ideas in real time.
Instead of designing in isolation, we were designing collaboratively.
That allowed us to move faster and make smarter decisions.
Speed Without Sacrificing Quality
One of the most remarkable aspects of the project was its timeline.
From concept to groundbreaking, the team moved in six months, an unusually fast schedule for a municipal recreation facility.
Schnoebelen:
That timeline was only possible because we were aligned from day one.
Our team was able to begin pricing and evaluating construction approaches earlier than you normally would. Because we were involved in the design conversations, we had confidence bidding off partial drawings.
That gave the city more cost security earlier in the process.
Luong:
Speed was important to the city. But we did not want speed at the expense of quality or programming.
The facility still needed to include everything that residents were expecting multiple courts, aquatics, fitness, community spaces.
By collaborating early, we avoided designing elements that would later need to be removed for budget reasons.
Real Savings Through Collaboration
The design build approach delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings compared to a traditional project delivery approach.
But both Luong and Schnoebelen emphasize that cost savings were not the most important outcome.
Luong:
The real benefit was certainty.
Instead of discovering budget problems late in the process, we had accurate feedback early. That meant the city could make informed decisions while the project was still flexible.
Schnoebelen:
Exactly. When the contractor and architect are aligned early, you eliminate a lot of the inefficiencies that happen in traditional delivery methods.
You spend less time redesigning and more time building.
A Necessary Site Change
One unexpected challenge during the design process was a significant site adjustment.
After the project began, the team determined that relocating the building within the park would better serve the long-term goals of the project and the city.
Luong:
Changing a site mid design is never simple. But it was the right decision for the project.
It allowed us to better integrate the facility with the surrounding park amenities and improve circulation, access, and future flexibility.
Schnoebelen:
Those moments are where collaboration really matters.
Instead of slowing down the project, the team worked together to redesign the site quickly and keep the schedule moving. Because we were operating as a design build team, we could adapt without creating disruption for the city.
Designing for Flexibility
The West Memphis Recreation and Aquatics Center was designed to serve a wide range of users.
The facility’s gymnasium can accommodate five basketball courts, which can be converted into volleyball courts or up to ten pickleball courts. The courts can also transform into event space, allowing the building to host tournaments, conventions, and community gatherings.
Aquatics are equally important. The facility will include:
- An eight-lane competition pool
- A therapy pool
- Spaces for swimming lessons and rehabilitation programming
Additional amenities include a fitness center, community meeting rooms, concessions, and an indoor walking track.
The concept plan shows how the gymnasium, natatorium, and supporting spaces are organized within the building to maximize flexibility and circulation.
Luong:
When we design facilities like this, we think about them as community infrastructure.
The building needs to serve kids, adults, seniors, athletes, and families. It also needs to support programs the city may not even be running yet.
Flexibility is key.
Trust Between Teams
Project Luong and ARCO’s relationship quickly developed into a strong partnership.
Schnoebelen:
Design build requires trust.
You cannot operate in silos. You have to be willing to share information early and stand behind your recommendations.
Our teams spent time together in person, worked through design sessions collaboratively, and built a level of alignment that allowed the project to move forward quickly.
Luong:
That trust goes both ways.
When ARCO provides input about cost or constructability, we have to take that seriously in the design process. At the same time, they trust us to represent the design vision and the client’s priorities.
That mutual respect is what makes architect led design build work.
The City as the Third Partner
Both Luong and Schnoebelen emphasize that the progress made on the project so far has not been solely about the architect and contractor.
The City of West Memphis played a crucial role.
Luong:
The city understood what they wanted to achieve and stayed focused on that goal.
Their leadership trusted the project team but also provided clear direction when decisions needed to be made.
That balance allowed the project to move forward efficiently.
Schnoebelen:
Municipal projects can sometimes stall because there are too many decision points.
Here, the city staff were engaged, responsive, and aligned around the mission of the project.
That made a huge difference.
Looking Forward
With the recent groundbreaking celebration held on March 18, 2026, the West Memphis Recreation and Aquatics Center has officially moved from vision to construction. The milestone marked an exciting moment for city leadership, community members, and the project team who have worked together to bring the facility to this point.
Once complete, the center will serve as a hub for athletics, wellness, and community programming while supporting tourism and economic activity throughout the region.
For both Project Luong and ARCO/Murray, the project also represents the continuation of a strong partnership built on collaboration and shared goals.
Luong:
Projects like this show what is possible when teams trust each other and stay focused on the end goal. What we celebrated at the groundbreaking was the start of bringing that vision to life, and we are excited to continue sharing progress as construction moves forward.
Schnoebelen:
From a construction standpoint, it is rewarding to see the momentum that collaboration can create early in a project. Now that construction is underway, we are looking forward to continuing that partnership and delivering a facility the community can be proud of.
About ARCO/Murray
ARCO/Murray is a single source national design-builder that specializes in commercial construction for Fortune 500 companies and individual businesses. From planning to execution, ARCO’s expert team uses the most advanced design-build methodology to deliver the very best client experience.
With over 200 sports and entertainment projects completed, ARCO/Murray leverages its unique expertise to help clients build their facilities and manage their real estate pipeline and strategy. ARCO’s national reach, engineering prowess, and affiliated specialty groups make them standout design-build partners in this space.
Thank you for reading!
Contact the ARCO/Murray Sports & Entertainment team to discuss your next project.