Trail Center at Camp Prairie Schooner

Trail Center at Camp Prairie Schooner

Trail Center at Camp Prairie Schooner THE CHALLENGE: A century after the Girl Scouts of the USA was founded, use design to create a modern camping experience for a traditional organization, in order to compete with the myriad of choices available to young girls today.

THE SITE: A wooded camp only 15 miles from downtown Kansas City, surrounded by creeks, hills, and nature trails.

THE PROGRAM: Two new bunkhouses totalling 4,430 sf with flexible space, public restrooms and a shower facility.

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DOWNTOWN

SITE

SITE PLAN Camp Prairie Schooner is located in a heavily wooded area 19 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City. The Trail Center is positioned adjacent to an existing dining hall to form a courtyard space.

EXTERIOR VIEW The Trail Center consists of two bunk houses that can serve up to 40 girls and 8 parents or staff. The bunk houses also provide 24 hour latrine facilities for all outdoor campers.

FLOOR PLAN

VIEW LOOKING WEST The courtyard serves as a drop-off zone, an entry sequence into the trail center, and a lantern for girls walking about camp during the evening.

Camp Prairie Schooner Bunkhouse

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AXONOMETRIC DIAGRAM The program of the building was simple and the means of construction were very straightforward.

EAST ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

EXTERIOR VIEW The bunk houses feature a simple, playful material palette, with alternating shades of corrugated metal softened by colored cement board siding and light-diffusing polygal at the west and east ends.

TRANSVERSE SECTIONS Scissor trusses form the roof of the Trail Center. Each bunk house has a single light well to bring daylight to the innermost spaces.

INTERIOR VIEWS The kitchen and flex room serve as indoor activity space that can be used year-round.

VIEW LOOKING NORTH The northern bunk house protrudes to the east to form a courtyard.

VIEW LOOKING NORTH The bunk houses are sited next to an existing deck and dining hall where campers congregate before meal time.

PERFORMANCE QUALIFICATIONS The following sustainable features were employed in the project: Generous daylighting, controlled by exterior polycarbonate wall sheathing on the east-facing facade.

Careful use of recyclable materials, including steel cladding and locally fabricated steel furniture systems.

High-performance building systems, including low E-insulated glazing, heavily insulated wall system filled with blanket insulation and a reflective white TPO roof membrane to reduce heat gain.

High efficiency T5 fluorescent light fixtures on motion detectors throughout the building to reduce energy use.

Natural ventilation utilizing operable windows in every room.

Energy Star apppliances, heating and cooling systems.

Low-VOC paints, stains, sealants, and adhesives.

Formaldehyde-free cabinets.