As part of a city-wide effort to invest in recreational access and community wellness, the City of Tampa is developing the East Tampa Recreation Complex, a 10.2-acre, multi-use facility that will replace and expand the services of the current Fair Oaks Community Center. The project merges several parcels, including the Herbert D. Carrington Sr. Community Lake and adjacent properties, into a single consolidated space designed to serve youth, adults, and seniors alike.
Once complete, the complex will feature a full-size gymnasium, multipurpose spaces, senior programming areas, and room for additional recreational services such as dance and wellness activities. For a public facility of this scale, serving so many age groups under one roof, the challenge was clear: maintain rigorous quality control and structural safety across a large, multi-facility development, all while complying with Florida’s demanding Threshold Inspection requirements.
Biller Reinhart Engineering Group, Inc. was selected to serve as the Special Inspector (Threshold Inspector) and Special Inspector Representative for the structural component construction of this transformative development. Our team reviewed the Threshold Inspection Plan and structural construction documents prepared by DeCaro Wilson at the 90% design level, dated December 2023, along with the milestone and overall project schedules prepared by Skanska in May 2024.
Collaborating closely with the City of Tampa and Skanska’s Design-Build team, our Engineers review and interpret structural plans, perform periodic and continuous inspections, and ensure qualified Special Inspector Representatives are present on-site throughout construction, all in strict adherence to Florida Administrative Code 61G15-35.004 and the Florida Building Code.
Threshold Inspection coverage on the East Tampa Recreation Complex spans the full arc of structural construction, from reinforced footings and foundation walls to precast wall panels, structural framing, and building envelope components. At each stage, our Special Inspector Representatives are on-site to observe, document, and verify that construction conforms to the approved structural plans and specifications.
This continuous, hands-on presence gives the City of Tampa and its Design-Build team ongoing assurance that the structural work underway meets code before it is concealed by later phases of construction, an essential safeguard on a project supporting multiple public uses for decades to come.
The East Tampa Recreation Complex is on track for completion by 2026, offering modern recreational and wellness services for East Tampa residents, backed by professional structural oversight to ensure longevity, safety, and code compliance for years to come.
We are proud to play a role in bringing this significant investment in public infrastructure to life, helping improve the quality of life and promote wellness for East Tampa residents, with community engagement and outreach already underway alongside construction.
Location
East Tampa, FL
Site Size
10.2 Acres
Client
City of Tampa, Parks & Recreation Department
Design-Build Team
Skanska
Structural Engineer of Record
DeCaro Wilson
Anticipated Completion
2026
Governing Code
FAC 61G15-35.004 & Florida Building Code
Our Threshold Inspectors deliver rigorous, code-compliant quality control from foundation to rooftop.
