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September 12, 2018
in
by John W

Kresge Auditorium and Pavilion

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Cate Student Center, Meredith College Raleigh, North Carolina   The Cate Student Center, had seen minimal updates since its construction in the early 1970s. GBR was engaged to explore options for a phased renovation and expansion. The first phase focused on updating the auditorium to provide a modern, fully accessible, multi-functional space.   When originally built, the auditorium included a moveable partition, allowing the room to be split in two. In order to maximize the amount of open interior space, this wall was removed along with a rear projection booth, storage room, and office space. This allowed for an additional row of seating as well as an informal gathering and pre-function area at the back of the room.  It also facilitated adding accessible spaces with companion seating at the rear and at the front of the auditorium. The space was made to be fully accessible by providing a new exterior entrance door at the rear...

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September 10, 2018
in
by John W

St. Rose of Lima Priests Retirement Home

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Diocese of Arlington Annandale, Virginia   The goal for this project was to create a peaceful, supportive and accessible independent senior living community for up to 20 retired priests. Initially, GBR Architects worked with a Diocesan Committee to develop appropriate space, schedule and cost requirements along with qualitative criteria to evaluate three potential building sites in Fairfax and Arlington counties. The selected site in Annandale, Virginia delivered the best opportunity to meet these diverse requirements.   Following the site selection, GBR Architects designed a residential facility to meet the priests’ unique needs for worship, communal and living spaces. It was decided that the project would be built in multiple phases to provide the necessary housing over time as the diocesan priest population reached retirement age. The initial phase provided for eight priest apartments, a staff apartment, and all shared common areas including foodservice, dining, fitness, and meeting rooms. Of particular importance, the Chapel was designed...

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September 10, 2018
in
by John W

Embassy of the Republic of Hungary

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Republic of Hungary Washington, DC   In collaboration with the Hungarian design architects of A+D Studio, GBR was the Architect of Record for the renovation and addition to the existing Chancery and new Consulate building for the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, DC.  The existing chancery building is a 1970s structure with exposed cast-in-place concrete beams, precast concrete exterior panels and dark interiors. The intent of the work is to give a new and appropriate presence to the embassy, while respectfully relating to the surrounding residential neighborhood and the environmentally sensitive adjacent Rock Creek Park.   In an effort to limit the project scope and costs, a decision was made to retain the existing chancery building and alter its architectural character through new cladding combined with additions at the public entry area. The existing facade is re-clad through a combination of pre-patinated copper and large-format porcelain wall panels. The additions help form and emphasize a ceremonial...

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September 10, 2018
in
by John W

Miller Center of Public Affairs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virgina   Working closely with Miller Center staff, GBR Architects designed a multimedia archive and library for this nationally recognized government and public affairs center for the study of the American presidency at the University of Virginia. This library provides reading and research space for scholars; storage for a number of collections, including digital media, books, and audiotapes; and a full compliment of office space for staff and scholars. Multiple additions weave through and around the historic Faulkner House to complete the ensemble. GBR Architects designed warm, scholarly spaces that range from personal and shared offices to larger gathering areas, such as the reading room.   GBR Architects not only connected all floors together with clear and unobstructed paths but also integrated interior and exterior to better serve Miller center functions.  A new landscaped court spans between the two additions to welcomes scholars and visitors for expanded functions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

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September 6, 2018
in
by John W

Gonzaga Student Commons

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Gonzaga College High School Washington, DC Award of Merit for Excellence in Design, Inform Awards   As part of the second phase of campus renovations at Gonzaga College High School, GBR Architects created this new center for student life within the “found space” of a gritty service courtyard. The new infill building also extends across the face of the adjacent athletic center with a shared entrance façade that defines the western edge of the main campus quadrangle. With its open steel frame, exposed ductwork and clean modern details, the inserted building offers a visual counterpoint to the heavy masonry construction that characterizes this historic urban campus.   Inside the space, three historic buildings form the edges of an open commons area set on a mezzanine above an expanded dining hall. Clerestory windows bring in abundant daylight and the raw character of the old courtyard is recalled through the use of exposed brick, concrete, structural steel, and...

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September 6, 2018
in
by John W

German School Science Building

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] German School Washington Potomac, Maryland LEED Gold® Merit Award, Washington, DC AIA UnBuilt Awards   This unique independent school serves the local German language community in the DC Metro area with a curriculum according to German educational standards. The new building provides modern laboratories and support spaces as the new home for the science department. The building and surrounding landscape design reflect the school's commitment to healthy and enriching places for learning while keeping utility and maintenance costs at a minimum. The building further synthesizes the school’s science program with the tangible and quantifiable building technology by embracing light, thermodynamics, acoustics, and environmental and hydrological systems as core design parameters.   The completed facility achieved LEED gold level certification. It is the first phase of a two phased campus enlargement to create a stand-alone upper school. The original campus was organized in a series of terraced levels. The new structure bridges two of these levels to provide an...

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September 6, 2018
in
by John W

St. Philip Catholic Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Diocese of Arlington Falls Church, Virginia   Constructed in the 1960's, the space was originally designed to serve the dual functions of worship and school gymnasium. As its use evolved to become the permanent sanctuary, GBR was engaged to design a renovation to transform the existing space into one of serenity and peace with a richly layered, architecturally progressive character that creates a welcoming spiritual home for the congregation.   As a visual reminder of the link between the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, all of the major liturgical elements in the renovated church are on axis.  This begins with the ambry containing the holy oils; to the font in the baptistry; to the sanctuary and altar.  The font at St. Philip was designed in the style of the early Church.  In the center of the octagonal  baptistry is a Greek cross with equidistant sides.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

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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 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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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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