AIA Baltimore Awards - AIA Baltimore Awards 2021
Good Design = Good Business Awards
2021-10-27 13:28:35
GOOD DESIGN = GOOD BUSINESS AWARD
CAHILL FITNESS CENTER
GWWO ARCHITECTS
Design of the new Cahill Fitness & Wellness Center, which is located in Baltimore’s Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, was inspired by the surrounding densely wooded 1,000-acre urban oasis. The building’s natural forms and exterior material palette of wood and glass curtain wall merge the facility with the forested landscape. Inside, wood — specifically, poplar, walnut and ash — saved by Baltimore’s Camp Small Zero Waste Initiative and milled into construction timber adorns the walls. Carefully planned views out from nearly every space in the building, along with areas for outdoor activities, provide city residents endless opportunities to engage with nature.
The new building replaces a dreary and unwelcoming 1970s recreation center that lacked modern amenities yet remained a beloved community resource. The local community and Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park stakeholder groups were engaged partners throughout the early design stages and were critical in guiding the programmed spaces, notably including the only performance theater within a city recreation center. Home to a thriving youth-based theater program, the previous facility lacked space for these young, talented performers, thus restricting the program’s growth. Understanding the community’s needs, the design team worked closely with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) to develop a highly efficient floor plan to ensure parity among other BCRP facilities by allocating fitness space within the central core to allow for the additional performance space.
Additionally, the 30,000-square-foot facility houses a gymnasium, natatorium, fitness area, dance studio and classroom. Interior spaces are flexible and durable, able to accommodate a range of intergenerational programming. New site features include a splash area adjacent to the natatorium, a playground, basketball courts and a picnic area.
Designed to be compliant with the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), the building’s sustainable design elements include light-colored roofing materials to minimize heat island effects, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, recycled materials, and lowemitting materials. Energy reduction initiatives include LED energy efficient lighting throughout the building, natural daylighting coupled with fritted glazing and sun-shading devices on the exterior to control the amount of direct sunlight entering the building, and energy efficient HVAC systems.
JURY COMMENTS
The Cahill Fitness Center is a fantastic example of good design being a good business model. It is an attractive, well designed public building that embodies a good business practice for the City and its customers. This project is forward thinking; from the integration of the environment and plan with the surrounding park, to its very community based focus and approach. The jury appreciates the transformation from the old fitness center to a new one that is truly a welcoming wellness facility for the entire community.
OWNER: Baltimore City Recreation and Parks | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM: GWWO Architects – Alan Reed, FAIA, LEED AP; John Gregg, AIA, VMA, LEED AP; Monica Pascatore, AIA, LEED AP; Brian Eschman, AIA; Eric Baumgartner, AIA; Patrick Fava; Danielle Peters, AIA; Lacey Anthony | GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Dustin Construction | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Mahan Rykiel Associates Inc. | CIVIL ENGINEER: MK Consulting Engineers | STRUCTURAL: Faisant Associates | MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: MIN Engineering | PHOTOGRAPHY: Tom Holdsworth | CONSULTANTS: Robert B. Balter Company, Aquatic Facility Design, Atenas Technology Design Consultants
GOOD DESIGN = GOOD BUSINESS HONORABLE MENTION
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MURPHY & DITTENHAFER ARCHITECTS
This project involved the repair and restoration of a vacant 20,000-square-foot historic building in downtown York, Pennsylvania, which had functioned as “The Lafayette Club” — a prominent private businesspersons’ club for nearly 100 years until the club ceased operations in 2012. The unoccupied structure was not maintained — and roof leaks led to interior plaster ceiling/wall damage and deterioration of room finishes, millwork and unique character-defining features.
In addition to the extensive physical repairs required, the layout of existing rooms and types of spaces within the building were eclectic, including two first-floor parlor-type rooms with high ceilings, tall windows and ornate fireplaces all dating from the original 1839 Federal-style townhouse construction. Later additions provided more dining/meeting rooms, including a first-floor “tavern” space with painted wall murals based on historic etchings depicting 18th century life in York City.
Fortuitously, York College of Pennsylvania was persuaded to purchase the historic but rapidly deteriorating building and undertake the significant repairs; mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) system replacements; life safety/code upgrades; and other required improvements. All roof, exterior brick masonry, wood cornice/fasciae and window components were repaired in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. All interior plaster wall/ceiling surfaces, multicomponent wood base, floors, windows, and door trim were similarly repaired or replicated in kind.
The building design “worked with” (not against) the historic building — to accommodate three programs for the college’s new “downtown” location: The Center for Community Engagement; Hospitality Management; and Glatfelter Scholars. This prominent building no longer embodies “exclusion” based on gender, race or religion — and now represents community “diversity” and “inclusiveness” via the facility programming, usage, and strong commitment to “social equity.”
To meet the requirement that all (five) interior floor levels be accessible, a new 2,500-pound capacity elevator was inserted at an inside corner between the original residence and a later addition. The hoistway is clad in an offset pattern of zinc panels, which are also exposed inside the new entry lobby along with a “discovered” steel column. To obtain full accessibility, the existing one-story brick Duke Street entrance, including doors and leaded glass sidelight/transom assembly, was carefully disassembled and re-erected 6 feet farther east under the existing roof canopy.
Within the first-floor hall, two existing “interior phone booths” were restored — along with wood coat rack standards repurposed into a display about the building’s history. The monumental “tiger maple” staircase was meticulously restored. The iconic Tavern Room murals were repaired by a paint conservation artist — along with restoration of the dark wood wall paneling, period grasscloth inserts and Moravian tile fireplace surrounds in adjacent first-floor rooms.
The completed restoration/conservation/renovation effort preserves and re-energizes a historic city landmark — and has been a huge success for the college — certainly exemplifying that “Good Design = Good Business.”
JURY COMMENTS
The jury was excited to see a historic adaptive reuse project initiated by a major institution, and hopes to see more work pursued by larger institutions. The restoration is comprehensive and well done. It reinforces historic Main Street and opened up a space that used to be rather exclusive, to be one for all to use.
OWNER: York College of Pennsylvania | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM: Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects – Frank E. Dittenhafer II, FAIA, LEED AP; Peter Schwab, AIA, LEED AP; Lauren Myatt, AIA, LEED AP; Ryan J. Shank, AIA; Lisa H.B. Clemens; Kyle Giumento, Associate AIA | GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Kinsley Construction | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Baker, Ingram & Associates | MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: JDB Engineering Inc. | PHOTOGRAPHY: Mike Mihalo Photography
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