NEWS

Curtis Institute of Music, Lenfest Hall

April 19th, 2017

VSBA designed this major new multi-use music education and student residence building for the renowned Curtis Institute of Music. The expansion — on a historic block of Philadelphia’s Locust Street — provides state-of-the-art facilities for practice and teaching, an orchestral rehearsal room, and student residences, all in close proximity to existing facilities on Rittenhouse Square. Amenities include dining and social spaces and an outdoor terrace shared by students, faculty, and staff. The project has achieved LEED Gold certification.

The building incorporates box-in-box construction to provide appropriate acoustical isolation of all music spaces. The rehearsal hall is designed for flexible use with adjustable acoustics and is equipped with separate audio and visual recording studios. All teaching spaces and studios have recording/playback systems. Structural and mechanical systems were carefully designed to meet demanding acoustical requirements.

Our design responds to the scale and character of the historic streetscape. A four-story façade on Locust Street is clad in brown sandstone with window groupings and horizontal accents that relate to the rhythm of neighboring townhouses. To either side we preserved and restored existing historic façades, incorporating them into the design to help preserve the character of the street. Yet our work concurrently promotes the new, 21st century identity of the expanded institution: a carved frieze across the façade identifies the building with a bit of civic flair, a projected bay window highlights the entry, and generous windows express the 30′ high rehearsal hall.

We worked closely with near neighbors, community groups, and other stakeholders to build consensus for the design and secure approval from the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Of particular note, student residences are located in a tower set far back from Locust Street and clad in a beige-gray brick; this renders it minimally visible from Locust Street and apparently a separate building. We created a series of sun-shadow studies to visualize the impact of the tower’s shadow throughout the year to ensure minimal shading of historic St. Mark’s Church across the street. On the building’s other side, a setback the use of red brick continues the scale of Latimer Street’s buildings while beige brick above reflects sunlight into the narrow street.

Photos by Tom Crane and Matt Wargo

Harvard Divinity School, Rockefeller Hall

April 19th, 2017

The renovation of Rockefeller Hall and the construction of a new landscaped green in a decommissioned parking area — the first increments of Harvard Divinity School’s (HDS) campus plan — followed VSBA’s programming study for the campus, whose goals were to promote an enhanced sense of community at the School, strengthen connections between the Divinity School and the rest of the University, and optimize the use of HDS space in support of its academic mission.

Rockefeller Hall was designed by the distinguished Modern architect Edward Larrabee Barnes at the height of his career. Since its construction in 1970, very little of the building had been altered. It showed signs of obsolescence and of age, and HDS decided that dormitory rooms were no longer the best use of this important part of its campus. But Rockefeller Hall retained many virtues — including handsome, durable materials and large windows providing connections between inside and out. Its simple, rigorous Modernist aesthetic contrasted with the adjacent Collegiate Gothic Andover Hall and with the residential-scaled building along the neighboring streets. VSBA’s renovation:

  • created more amenable, welcoming, up-to-date spaces at the first level for dining, meeting, attending classes, and lounging
  • converted the upper level dormitory spaces to administrative offices for HDS administrative departments
  • improved accessibility throughout the building and the site (the existing building had no elevator and the original site design made the building approach inaccessible)
  • made modifications to maintain the stylistic integrity of Rockefeller Hall and preserve its place in the history and stylistic diversity of the Divinity School and Harvard campus
  • reconfigured Rockefeller Hall’s landscape to strengthen connections between inside and outside, and between it and the rest of the HDS campus
  • provided a sustainable, healthy environment that allows careful stewardship of School and University resources, initially and over the long term.

Our approach was to maintain the most critical aspects of Barnes’ design — its large windows and crisp geometries — while making the building and site more suitable to new and evolving uses and adherent to current standards of life safety and accessibility. Circulation throughout the building was made clearer and easier to navigate; introducing daylight to corridors added amenity and aided orientation.

The first floor is the most public, with seminar rooms, a lounge, and dining area; in many ways, this floor acts as a Divinity School campus center. The refectory, in particular, was made to feel more welcoming and lively, and the lounge was designed to serve as a much-needed campus “living room.” Levels two through four are administrative offices arranged in clusters to promote collegial interaction. Interior glazing brings daylight and amenity to corridors.

This project has been awarded LEED Gold certification. It was featured on the 2008 Educators’ Summit Sustainable Campus Tour of the U.S. Green Building Council, and, according to Harvard’s Office of Sustainability, this project includes “the most significant greenhouse gas reduction in a Harvard building to date.” Specific measures to promote health, efficiency, and green design include building reuse, transformation of a parking lot into a beautiful “greenscape,” the use of green materials, modernizing the building envelope, white TPO roof, occupancy sensors, and an Otis Gen II machine room-less traction elevator to reduce energy consumption.

Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest

April 19th, 2017

VSBA designed a major expansion for the Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Cedar Crest Campus and oversaw construction of the final phase of its facility master plan projects.  The Kasych Pavilion, centerpiece of the campus, includes:

The Pavilion’s design derives from the context of existing hospital buildings and their precast concrete and aluminum curtain wall aesthetic.  The new building defers to the existing central entrance but creates facades that are predominantly windows into patient rooms and colorful aluminum panels.  At ground level, large expanses of windows encourage transparency and connections between the interior concourse and the exterior “Avenue of the Arts.”  The modularity of the building’s function inspires the rhythmic patterns of vertical and horizontal materials and details.

The interior concourse connects the new building to the existing pedestrian circulation system, bringing it to the front to allow natural light and exterior views.  This space is designed to be a place for patients, visitors, conference attendees, and staff, so it must accommodate their varied needs.  A convenience store, located near the staff entrance, provides a needed amenity for nurses and physicians on their way to and from work.  The concourse is furnished with durable terrazzo floors, laminate wall panels, and natural cherry wood doors, benches, and display cases.  Graphics and fine art adorns the concourse, including quotes from inspirational thinkers and bronze casts of medical educators.  Graphic panels and a comprehensive signage program throughout the building describe the sustainable initiatives used to achieve LEED certification.

The Kasych Pavilion is an environmentally friendly building.  One of the fundamental principles of healing and healthcare is first do no harm, and in our design we’ve minimized impact on the global environment while taking many measures to make sure this building is healthy and safe.  Specific strategies include:

As a component of our work at Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Cedar Crest campus, VSBA planned, designed, and oversaw construction for the Center for Advanced Health Care, a LEED Silver certified anchor for ambulatory care whose mission is to create a personal, patient-centered and life-affirming experience for the patient.  Physicians’ offices, clinical spaces, and other tenants are located here.  VSBA was Design Architect for the site planning, massing, exterior skin, and public spaces of the building, as well as two floors of clinical facilities within the building, the Neuroscience Center, and the Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists Diagnostic Center.  The floor also contains a public corridor connecting the enclosed pedestrian bridge to the building, and a café serving light food and drinks for building occupants, patients, and families.

Harvard University, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Fay House Renovation

April 19th, 2017

Fay House is the original home of Radcliffe College and now the administrative building for the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.  It was built in 1807 and expanded both horizontally and vertically over the years.

Following an initial programming study and scoping analysis, VSBA embarked on a renovation to preserve the most important historic features and character of the building while:

The Colonial/Federal Revival Sheerr Room was Radcliffe’s first auditorium.  A major goal of our renovation was to preserve its character while meeting the new audio/visual requirements.  This multi-use, reconfigurable space now features a large screen and projection system, video teleconferencing system, overhead speakers, and amplifier.

Fay House is LEED Gold certified; as of its completion, it’s the oldest LEED certified building in the United States.  Fay House powers down appliances as well as lights when the building is not in use, reducing power use and waste.  Occupancy and daylight sensors, as well personal lighting controls, allow adjustment of light per room and usage.  Also, renovations introduced daylight and views to working and meeting areas.

Harvard University, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Schlesinger Library

April 19th, 2017

VSBA programmed and designed a renovation of the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library for the History of Women in America, one of a group of buildings at the head of historic Radcliffe Yard.  Built in 1907 and originally home to the Radcliffe College Library, the building became a research library in 1967.  It’s now an important component of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

Over time, the building became more intensely and densely used to meet the needs of a modern special collections library.  In the process, most of the character, grace, and generosity of the original building interior was obliterated.  Our challenge was to help the Library recover some of its character while meeting the 21st century needs of an important collection and contemporary caretakers and users.  We:

This project was the first increment of the Radcliffe Institute’s campus plan, completed by VSBA in 2002.  Our renovation supports the goals of the overall plan, with exhibition and meeting space on the first floor and a newly accessible entrance from Radcliffe Yard.  An area of the second floor was returned to double-height reading room space, and existing original building elements — such as the ornamental stair and the Sarah Wyman Whitman Room — were refurbished and maintained in public view.

The renovated Schlesinger Library has been LEED Certified for its efficiency, environmental sensitivity, and sustainable approach to interior environments.

Pembroke North Condominiums

April 19th, 2017

VSBA designed the Pembroke North luxury condominiums along Philadelphia’s historic Main Line in Wayne, PA.  Each of the three buildings is three stories; together they contain a total of 54 units.

The site sits at the nexus between residential and commercial contexts.  Our design addresses this using traditional domestic architectural details and materials with simple and efficient building forms. The rich red brick exteriors are accented with broad stone stripes and large windows.  Interior living spaces feature gracious unit configurations, balconies, abundant natural light, and elegant finishes.  A ground floor plinth provides convenient covered parking below the residential units.

Pembroke North is the first multi-family residential building to be registered for LEED certification in the Philadelphia area. The buildings are designed to be energy-efficient, hi-performance, and environmentally sensitive.  Sustainable materials are incorporated throughout (including 100% recycled drywall), a green roof helps to reduce the heat island effect while easing the load on the building’s mechanical systems, and we diverted over 96% of all waste from the landfill.

The Pembroke North condominiums are simultaneously cutting-edge and traditional, offering high design and contemporary conveniences along with humanistic warmth and sustainability.

 

Interior photos courtesy of David Oceanus.

South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center

April 19th, 2017

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) joined with the City of Philadelphia in a public-private partnership to create the new South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center. This innovative facility combines a City Health Center, a CHOP primary care practice, a branch of the Free Library, and a City recreation center with playground. The Center serves an ethnically diverse population from the surrounding communities, many of whom are recent immigrants. The mix of uses enables joint wellness programs combining health education, clinical treatment, and physical activity. The project is LEED Silver certified.

The site — extending from Broad Street to 15th Street and from Morris Street to Castle Avenue — is surrounded on three sides by 19th century townhouses. Broad Street is characterized by a vibrant mix of activities and uses. Originally lined with grand houses, it’s evolving as home to commercial activities and institutions that benefit from the high visibility and proximity to transit. The Center angles back at the corner of Broad and Morris to form an entry plaza, with a sitting wall and planting bed extending from an entrance to the Broad Street subway. “See the Moon,” a sculpture of mother and child by Evelyn Keyser, sits at the south end of the bed and addresses pedestrians on Broad Street. Enclosed parking is provided on-site for staff.

The Broad Street façade is highly transparent to engage passersby. The upper two stories containing the clinical spaces are cantilevered slightly to disengage from the column grid, enabling a rhythmic array of vertical glazed curtainwall units and striped metal panels. The panels display rainbow colors in an animated mix, suggesting the vibrant multicultural nature of the community. A continuous aluminum plate signband with punched-out letters identifies the building while adding a contrasting horizontal element. At street level, large windows between cast stone piers give views to and from the library. Together, these elements bring civic scale, individual and collective identity, and a touch of fun. Meanwhile, facades facing the residential streets combine more traditional red brick and punched window openings. A cast stone base and belt courses provide horizontal accents.

Inside, a common circulation core serves the library and clinical spaces.

The Library is the first of the City’s Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative, whose goals are to reestablish the Library as a key resource and “portal to learning, public services, economic opportunity, recreation, and community engagement.” The library has general seating arrayed along the Broad Street side as well as clusters of flexible seating and collections defining areas for different age groups and activities. Enclosed spaces include a dividable multi-purpose room and a combination computer lab and “maker space.”

The clinical floors above are served from lobbies connected by a double-height space overlooking Broad Street. Waiting areas also overlook Broad Street with services organized along color-coded corridors extending from the waiting areas. Staff areas have discreet entrances from the lobbies and are separated from patient areas.

The City Health Center includes a pharmacy, dental suite, and radiology suite in addition to exam rooms and counseling spaces. Patients, often walk-ins, are screened in the outer waiting area and then directed to the appropriate section of the inner waiting area.

The upper CHOP floor contains exam rooms with a central nurse station. Patients are received in a single waiting area and then escorted to the appropriate exam room.

The recreation center houses a multipurpose space and computer room used by students in afterschool programs. The rec center, basketball court, and playground engage the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Photos and drawings by VSBA Architects and Planners