November 18, 2020  /  Around the Haus

Around The Haus: AIA Central Pennsylvania 2020 Excellence in Design Awards


Author
Lauren Bergman

Warehaus is Honored

at the AIA Central PA 2020 Excellence in Design Awards

Warehaus is honored to receive two AIA Central Pennsylvania Excellence in Design Awards for both the Courtyard by Marriott at McHenry Row and Milton and Catherine Hershey Conservatory at Hershey Gardens.

Citation Award – Milton and Catherine Hershey Conservatory at Hershey Gardens The Hershey Gardens were founded by Milton Hershey in 1937, beginning as a 3-1/2 acre rose garden. Growing to 23 acres, the site is now home to the 14,000 sf Milton & Hershey Conservatory, completed in 2015. Perched atop the Hershey Gardens and overlooking the historic rose garden, its design harkens back to the conservatories Milton & Catherine Hershey built in the early 1900s. True to the Hershey’s commitment to enrich their community and provide delight to young learners, the Conservatory offers stunning horticulture exhibits and a dynamic butterfly atrium for visitors of all ages.The design of the new structure mirrors the historic detail of Milton & Catherine Hershey’s original conservatory at their family home, High Point. It also incorporates modern materials, systems and functionality to support the intricacies of the project program. Speaking to the success of the intent, the conservatory is often mistaken by visitors as a building restoration project.Guests are greeted in the 2,800 sf Visitor Center Welcome Pavilion, featuring eight floor-mounted planters with 20’ tropical trees and flowing foliage reaching toward a large skylight, adorned with hanging stained-glass butterflies. Full height Palladian-style windows provide sweeping views of the gardens. The visitor center leads into the main attraction, a 2,000 sf living tropical butterfly atrium exhibit. This specialized indoor environment allows visitors to view tropical butterflies flourishing year-round. Both the envelope and interior conditions were carefully designed to maintain the tight environmental tolerances that encourage high levels of butterfly movement. To encourage flight activity, the design incorporates smooth transitions of the surface materials and eliminates sharp corners. A separate chrysalis exhibit is environmentally controlled to showcase the hatching process, and the adjacent workroom is a “clean room” with a bright white finish for easy identification of very small parasites.

The Conservatory also incorporates a 450 sf retail gift shop and 2,200 sf of flexible event space that serves rotating seasonal exhibits, educational support learning stations and wedding events. Lower level support spaces include 1,300 sf of office space, public restrooms, FDA-controlled shipping and receiving areas and mechanical equipment space and storage for exhibits.

Merit Award – Courtyard by Marriott at McHenry Row 
In the revitalized neighborhood of Locust Point, key Baltimore landmarks such as Inner Harbor and Federal Hill are within view. It is also home to the Port of Baltimore Cruise Terminal, making the corner lot location in the bustling mix-use McHenry Row development an ideal home for the new 85,000 sf Courtyard by Marriott hotel. The hotel caps the final phase of development at McHenry Row which also included the design for a five-story, 75,000 sq. ft. office building.The awkwardly shaped plot required simultaneous massing of the two buildings, ensuring that both fit on site and had proper pedestrian and vehicle access. Developers initially projected that the tight lot on Porter Street would only be viable as a parking lot. Placing two buildings with different uses on the site was challenged by vehicular and pedestrian access requirements and height and railway constraints. Additionally, Marriott’s traditional 4-story prototype was not feasible on the site, and busy grocery store and apartment traffic flow impeded the plan. In collaboration with the Marriott team, the architectural designers used careful and creative planning to modify Marriott’s prototype to fit within the constraints of the site.The resulting 8-story design adheres to required brand standards and room counts and became a new prototype for Marriott properties. The selected design allows easy access to both the cruise terminal and main transportation corridors, including I-95, while also preserving views of the waterfront. The 8-story, 126 room hotel is LEED Silver Certified and achieved 30% energy cost savings, 43% water use reduction, and 98% of construction waste diverted from landfill. Featuring an innovative lobby space and a contemporary guest room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. The exterior fire pit incorporates supplemental safety provisions to meet restrictive city code requirements, making it a unique feature in Baltimore’s hospitality landscape.
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