Mathews Architecture, P.A. 

Location: Asheville, North Carolina

The Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, is the City of Asheville’s first sustainably-designed building, awarded LEED™ Platinum Certification. Located on an underutilized inner-city ballfield, this facility is a new community center prototype that focuses not only on recreation but on the enrichment of all of the mind, body and spirit. This building, the first of three planned phases, contains the cultural arts component with a 180-seat performing arts theatre, stage, and flexible classrooms. Working within an extremely limited budget of public funds and private donations, this facility is proof that long-term efficiency can be achieved economically through good design.