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Concise
Summary
200,000 sq. ft., $40,000,000 facility on 23 acres. Site Design
includes walking paths, playing courts and fields, ponds, wind turbines,
and extensive plantings. The Center itself, which is proposed to
achieve LEED Gold certification, includes and ice arena, indoor and
outdoor aquatics facilities, gymnasiums, fitness areas, café, senior
wellness center, conference and banquet facilities, business incubator,
and administrative offices.
Site
Design
In general, the design of this site centers
around the theory of minimizing visual the impact of the relatively
large facility on the relatively flat and featureless surroundings. We
have chosen to organize the site by keeping the most prominent, and
exciting, features to the south and the more utilitarian features to the
north, working on the assumption that the primary axis of approach to
the facility will be from M-53 and coming north on Thomas Road.
Accordingly, we have placed the water park and aquatics areas to the
south to present an exciting view to approaching guests. Conversely, we
have placed the ice arena and site utility features to the north and
west, off of Geiger Road, in order to minimize their visual impact. We
have placed the Center in the center of the site in order to minimize
the visual impact from Thomas Road and to maximize our ability to design
perimeter berms and landscaping. We have designed an extensive network
of walking paths throughout the site, and situated the various outdoor
activities, such as tennis and basketball, within the path areas, and
adjacent to the gymnasiums. We have separated the required site water
retention volume into to ponds, which will add visual interest and focal
points on the site. One, shaped like Huron County, will serve as a
prominent water feature on Thomas Road, while the other will serve as a
prominent water feature tucked amongst the walking paths. In keeping
with our goal of designing and constructing an environmentally
responsible Center, the ponds will be used to collect runoff from both
the site and roof so that it can be utilized for all site irrigation.
Finally, we have broken the parking into multiple smaller areas, in
order minimize the visual impact, and the “heat island” effect, and to
maximize green space/landscape opportunities. Both the parking and on
site roadway will be constructed of pervious concrete pavement, thus
reducing the amount of runoff, and further reducing the “heat island”
effect of the pavement.
Center Architectural Design
In keeping with the overall history and character of the Thumb area, we
have chosen to follow an agricultural design theme, with a “high tech”
feel, for the project. We feel that this theme is more relevant to the
surrounding area than a nautical theme, which is more relevant to the
coastal areas of the Thumb. We feel that this will make for a Center
that is most harmonious with the surrounding area, will make for a more
pleasant viewing experience for all of the surrounding population.
The Center massing has taken its cues from larger agricultural buildings
such as horse and livestock barns, as the general massing of the Center
will be on a similar scale. We have followed some of the visual cues
fro these types of buildings, such as roof vents and dormers, while
trying not to be too literal. We have also utilized vertical elements,
resembling silos, to break up the large horizontal massing of the
Center.
The “high tech” feel comes from our use of materials, such as glass and
metal panel. While metal panel is a common agricultural building
material, we have used several unique and modern, panel styles and
oriented them in non-traditional ways. Additionally, the Center makes
heavy use of glass in order to make the Center more visually
transparent. This will add great visual excitement as viewers approach
the facility, particularly at night.
Overall, we have arrived at a unique design solution that is respectful
of, and harmonious with, the surrounding area, while presenting a modern
and exciting façade that will draw visitors to the Center. |
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