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September 6, 2018
in
by sean

Saint George’s Nave Renovation

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Saint George's Episcopal Church Arlington, Virginia   Saint George’s Episcopal Church has served the Arlington community for over 100 years. The original church building on this site was erected in 1911. The church grew with many additions over the years: Parish Hall in 1933, Nave in 1952, Organ Chamber in 1955, Administration Wing in 1958, and expanded in 1996. Since 1975, the original 1911 chapel has served as a worship  space to La Iglesia San José.   GBR was initially engaged for planning services to determine the best use for current space and to consider if another expansion was necessary. After evaluation of needs and budgets, it was determined to focus on renovation of the three main spaces: Nave, Parish Hall and Chapel. For sacred spaces, such as this, generations of families have attended worship, weddings, and baptisms, so preserving the architectural character of the spaces was a top priority.   The focus of the renovation was...

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September 5, 2018
in
by sean

Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Mary Baldwin University Staunton, Virginia   The Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement was in need of home that would give the newly created program a prominent visual presence on campus. The Center provides a resource to engage and challenge students to seek out service opportunities locally, nationally, and globally. The program also focuses on bringing students from diverse backgrounds into the Mary Baldwin community.   Strategically positioned at the center of campus along the primary campus pedestrian spine, the Center is named in honor of former president, Sam Spencer.  This student-focused facility occupies a storefront that was the former campus computer center. It leverages its location at a major crossroad of pathways used daily by students.  In response to this core campus location, the center is visually open to those passing by, revealing its intent on student engagement to all.  This transparent connection is the first glimpse of what the student will find...

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September 1, 2018
in
by sean

Pearce Science Center

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Mary Baldwin University Staunton, Virginia   Pearce Science Center had received only minor updates since its original construction in 1970. In the Campus Master Plan completed by GBR Architects, Pearce was noted to be generally adequate in size, but greatly in need of modernization to effectively support the sciences at Mary Baldwin. In order to provide an updated science facility, GBR began with a feasibility assessment to explore options for siting a replacement building and repurposing Pearce to house other academic programs. After consideration of multiple scenarios, it was decided that a phased renovation of Pearce would provide the most cost-effective solution.   The design strategy for the renovation leveraged the positive aspects of the original building by modernizing many existing functions in their current location.  At the same time, the plan transformed the character of the building into a modern collaborative learning environment. The imperatives for the project were to enhance opportunities for student...

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September 1, 2018
in
by John W

Lab School Library

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Lab School of Washington Washington, DC Award of Merit, AIA Northern Virginia   The Lab School Washington serves students with learning differences through a unique art-based education that seeks alternatives to traditional classroom instruction. This project provided a new library and media center that facilitates multiple methods for learning while still celebrating the importance of books as part of a complete educational experience. Three existing classrooms were set aside to create a library of 4000 volumes. While budget and space constraints were tight, the real challenge was designing a library for a student population for whom words can be indecipherable puzzles and libraries a mystery.   Careful study of the space needed for circulation and book perusal revealed that double-sided rotating bookcases would hold twice the amount of books and also eliminate clutter.  These rotating bookcases also proved to be enjoyable and appealing to the children.  The optimized bookcase arrangement coincided with the buildings existing...

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August 25, 2018
in
by sean

Senior Wing Renovation

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Saint Anselm's Abbey Washington, DC   Built in the early 1940s as housing for novices, this portion of the Saint Anselm’s Abbey monastery has served many uses over the years. The original wing had twelve dormitory rooms with a large ganged bathroom at the center. Very shortly after construction, the novices were moved out and the wing served as the High School from 1942 until 1955. After the school moved to a new building, the space served a variety of purposes including a barber shop, library, vocation office, mail room, and housing for monks with special needs. In order to better provide for their aging population, the Abbey engaged GBR Architects to repurpose the space once again into a dedicated senior wing.   The renovation created six independent living units consisting of a bedroom and private bathroom, with five of the bathrooms being fully ADA accessible. Also included in the renovation were an ADA accessible...

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July 15, 2018
in
by John W

Cantwell and Ruesch Academic Center

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Gonzaga College High School Washington, DC   Founded in 1821, this prominent Jesuit high school commissioned GBR Architects to conduct a comprehensive update of its urban campus. The resulting master plan envisioned a series of renovations and additions to provide new academic space, to update technology, and to create a friendly, safe environment by unifying the campus landscape and creating connective spaces between buildings.   The initial phase of the campus update renovated two historic buildings that years ago had been acquired by Gonzaga: the 1903 Cantwell Hall (a former grade school), and the former Notre Dame Academy for Girls (now Ruesch Hall).  These buildings, with their main facades and street entrances fronting K Street NW and North Capital Street, had their backs turned to the Gonzaga campus on Eye Street. Back doors were used as cramped inlets with student foot traffic traversing an urban alley and in-between the cars of parking lot.   To resolve these...

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June 28, 2018
in
by sean

Butler Condominium

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Butler Family Silver Spring, Maryland Award for Excellence in Architecture, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects   Repurposing of a 1500 sf art gallery attached to a LEED certified co-housing complex, GBR Architects created a flexible apartment for a family of five. The architecture organizes itself around a single, continuous header framed in exposed metal studs and sheathed in corrugated plastic. Openness, togetherness, sustainability and economy influence the attention to detail and material ingenuity.   The Butler’s sought a lifestyle that would allow more family time and a renewed sense of “living in community” with their children and their neighbors. A layer of transparency was developed between defined spaces by a continuous transom of ribbed acrylic glazing to allow light transfer from the exterior deep into the interior space. An over-sized, built-in table becomes the family magnet; serving multiple functions. Entire walls slide to conceal, offer access to or to completely open individual...

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