This will be my last post about the upper level of our multi-purpose facility.

In addition to the walking track and simulator room (covered in previous posts), the upper level also has a small exercise area with big windows for watching what’s happening outdoors. When I selected my feature photo for this post, something in it looked odd to me. Finally, it hit me. For some unknown reason, you can look outside while you’re on the stationary bikes, but when you’re on the rowing machine, all you get to see are people walking around and around the track. I wonder what that’s all about.

Although it’s on the main level, the kids’ play structure can be seen (and heard) from the upper level. I enjoy hearing the little voices from below. It makes me happy that they’re playing and climbing instead of sitting in front of the TV or a gaming device.

Looking down to the main floor play structure

Also, on the upper level, there’s an indoor court for basketball, volleyball, badminton, or pickle ball. I’ve only seen pickle ball so far, but that may be related to the time of day I’m there.

Upper level court

I’m very impressed with the building design. The many windows give beautiful natural light in every area, so on days when I’m power walking the indoor track there instead of outdoors, I still get to witness the sunrise through the east windows.

“Walkers are ‘practitioners of the city,’ for the city is made to be walked. A city is a language, a repository of possibilities, and walking is the act of speaking that language, of selecting from those possibilities. Just as language limits what can be said, architecture limits where one can walk, but the walker invents other ways to go.”

Rebecca Solnit