Joan Kroc, the widow of McDonald’s restaurant founder Ray Kroc, donated $1.6 billion to The Salvation Army for the purpose of establishing centers that offer opportunity, education, recreation and inspiration. Located throughout the United States, these centers are dubbed The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

The definition:

A Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center should consist of facilities and programs of superb quality that provide children, youth, families and individuals with character- and confidence-building educational and recreational arts and other activities; it should also be a beacon of hope and an agent of change in an underserved community.

The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of South Bend describes itself as redefining the meaning of community center.

WTI teamed up with the architect to provide programming, planning, engineering and construction administration services for the aquatic center. The dynamic aquatics area offers zero depth entry and interactive play features, a current channel, a 14-person whirlpool, a wellness lap pool and a flume slide. WTI worked with the slide manufacturer and the Kroc Center to include translucent fiberglass accents, creating a cohesive bubble theme throughout the natatorium.

Behind the scenes, the South Bend Kroc Center encompasses sustainable design and engineering features which meet LEED Gold qualifications.