Design for Community: Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Headquarters

A sea of red swimsuit-clad, bike riding kids is the telltale sign that summer has started in Newport Beach, CA. The iconic color is the official uniform of the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program, and undoubtedly the stamp of a decade’s old city tradition.

Biking along the coast, running across the sand, and diving into the waves, these junior lifeguards are in training. They’ll spend seven weeks of the summer building ocean swimming skills, learning beach safety awareness, and understanding the role of ocean lifeguards.

"The community loves the Junior Guards," said Peter Tauscher, Senior Civil Engineer and Project Manager. "Before and afterward, you see them biking around in their red shorts and all around the island."

Attendees of the program learn valuable skills: from the 3 R’s (Respect, Represent, Responsible), to navigating the surf shore break, first aid, team building, and sportsmanship.

This program's impact on the Newport Beach community did not happen overnight. Reenie Boyer, founder of the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program, hosted the first tryouts in 1984 with only three participants. Within the first ten years, that grew to around 1,000. The program is now a summer tradition, supporting over 1,600 kids and 60 instructors annually.

Many kids anxiously await the summer they are old enough to participate in the program. Gary Conwell, Lifeguard Training Captain and Junior Guard Program Supervisor, was one of those kids and continued to grow through the program. He can still recall the instructors he had each year.

"It's not a job. It's not a summer camp. It's almost like a rite of passage, so to speak, for kids in the community," Gary said.

“You can take the instructor out of the trailer, but you can’t take the trailer out of the instructor.” – Jeffrey L. Pratt

Although the program's permanence in the community became evident over the years, it lacked a permanent facility to call home. In 1984, the program was operating out of a single-wide trailer. They upgraded to a double-wide trailer and then a triple. With no running water or restroom facilities, the City of Newport Beach knew the headquarters needed an upgrade.

The team at COAR Design Group was excited to have the opportunity to design the new headquarters. COAR worked directly with City Staff and Lifeguards to develop the vision for the facility, keeping in mind current operations and future needs.

"As we observed how the program operated, how they used the [original] building to their benefit, and some of the challenges they were facing, it became really apparent that we could address a lot of things with the new building that they hadn't been able to have," Said COAR President Jeff Katz. "We spent a lot of time working with the Junior Guard folks to understand how this building needed to operate to facilitate not just maintaining the program they have, but how they could potentially grow."

Alongside programming and operations, COAR explored ways to make the building durable and long-lasting. With it being located directly on the sand, the building must withstand harsh coastal conditions from wind, water, and sand.

"We tried to utilize materials that were going to stand up to the marine environment, but also things that blended in with the surrounding beach and community," said Jeff.

The completed facility is a 5,500 sf, multi-functional space that includes administrative and event space, expanded storage, a secure restroom area, and a locker room. The space is flexible, durable, and equipped to support the lifeguards and staff who make this yearly program possible.

The multimedia exterior creates visual interest and reduces the perceived building mass so as not to obstruct the coastal view. The neutral colors and finishes tie into the aesthetic of the beach environment.

"We wanted this building to be iconic for the City, but the program is really what's iconic, and the building is there to support it," said Jeff. "They didn't need us to make the program a success, but we were able to provide something that was going to help make the program operate more efficiently going forward."

When not used for the Junior Guard Program, the City will offer programming and rentals through the Recreation Department for events such as weddings, birthday parties, and business meetings. Bi-fold doors allow the facility to open directly to the sand, offering users an unmatched beach-front view.

"Any time there's a new building and a beautiful location, I think it gives a lot of opportunity to showcase and highlight our city," said Recreation Manager for the Recreation and Senior Services Department, Raquel Valdez.

“We’re Here to Stay!” - Reenie Boyer

This year, the Junior Lifeguard Program celebrated the grand opening of the facility and operated their first summer season out of the new headquarters. The total number of attendees for this year’s program? 1,450.

“Now we have a space we can go into every day without driving a car, without opening a shipping container to get our vehicle out, or whatever else we really need. We have it all in one spot, which is fantastic. It’s so much more efficient.” Gary said. “[…] That leaves us more time to be talking with one another. Developing our program for the day, doing training activities, getting ready for the kids.”

The new headquarter building provides a homebase to the instructors, staff, and attendees for the seven weeks they are in the program. Equipped with modern amenities and durable materials, the facility is here for the long run.

“This building is just awesome and it’s a testament to the community’s support of the Junior Lifeguard Program,” Reenie said. “We’re here to stay!”