News Tribune Building Renovation Vision February 2021
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DEVELOPED FOR:
Wendy Whelpley, Executive Director - Beaver Falls CDC Christine Kroger, Executive Director - Neighborhood North Daniel Rossi-Keen, PhD, Executive Director - RiverWise
PRODUCED IN ONGOING CONSULTATION WITH PARTNERS
New Sun Rising
POWERED BY
evolve environment::architecture Christine Mondor, Principal Chris Guignon, Associate Ashley Cox, Designer David Ge, Designer Srinjoy Hazra, Designer
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership
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News Tribune Building Renovation February 2021
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Our Vision
A Step towards Realizing the Dream for Beaver County’s Future Built upon a foundation of rich cultural heritage, the future of Beaver County is full of potential for innovation and positive, sustainable change. Since 2018, stakeholders have been taking strides towards a brighter tomorrow and the renovation of the News Tribune Building is an important step in the journey. This document gives us a glimpse into how we envision a future for the News Tribune Building and how its spaces and program are thoughtfully designed to incorporate elements that speak to the six quality of life areas of an ecodistrict. Read on to find out how we balance the opportunities and challenges presented by the historic Trib Building and work towards a green and sustainable tomorrow.
“Transforming the News Tribune Building using sustainable design demonstrates the growing vision that Beaver County has for innovation and resilience.“ Daniel Rossi-Keen, PhD,
Executive Director, RiverWise
Imagine.
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“Rehabilitating the News Tribune Building would add incredible value to the city’s growing innovation district.” Bethany Williams, Director, Beaver Falls Department of Community Development
“Preserving and restoring the TRIB Building is vital to creating a future for Beaver Falls that remembers and celebrates its past while moving us into a brighter future.” Wendy Whelpley, Executive Director, Beaver Falls CDC
“Renovating the News Tribune Building will generate hope and create new possibilities for the entire community.”
Christine Kroger – Executive Director, Neighborhood North: Museum of Play Images provided by Skolnick Architecture
Beaver Falls CDC organizes a rooftop pop up concert at the News Tribune Building.
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OUR WORK SO FAR Ecodistricts are communities that have committed to achieving ambitious environmental sustainability performance goals. Ecodistricts focus on both the hardware, or physical systems of places, as well as the software of social and cultural resiliency. Ecodistrict planning enables communities to create more livable places, systems, and economies by leading with equity and amplifying environmental performance through collective action. The concept of an ecodistrict developed around 2010 in sustainability and urban planning professional and academic networks. Local Pittsburgh organizations and individuals have been integral to advancing the ecodistrict concept and advocacy movement, with Larimer’s Creating a Living City plan becoming one of the first ecodistrict neighborhood plans in the world. The Millvale Ecodistrict has also contributed significantly to the national movement, and its Pivot 2.0 Plan has been recognized as an early example of a fully adopted ecodistrict plan with municipal and community support. RiverWise’s specific contribution to ecodistrict thinking is unique both regionally and nationally for two reasons. First, RiverWise is one of the only organizations working to apply ecodistricts thinking to a rural context. Second, to our knowledge, RiverWise is the first example of an organization working to apply ecodistrict thinking at the county-scale. Both unique contributions position RiverWise to contribute to a broader, global conversation about the utility and adaptability of Ecodistrict thinking in diverse and varied contexts.
NEWS TRIBUNE BUILDING
Realizing the Vision The Beaver Falls community has begun to revitalize the building and imbibing it with the quality of life areas that will make it an integral part of the ecodistrict.
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The RiverWise Ecodistrict has adopted the six quality of life areas that were established in the Triboro Ecodistrict as key areas of planning and strategic action. They are: EQUITY FOOD WATER ENERGY AIR MOBILITY
March Park is intended as an integrated amenity - merging the indoors with the outdoor spaces.
The Carnegie Free Library from 13th Street.
The News Tribune Building from 13th Street.
13th Street has been discontinued between 7th Ave and Marginal Ave and converted into March Park, a new public amenity that will provide a continuous pedestrian plaza between the Carnegie Free Library and the News Tribune Building.
March Park by Klavon Design Associates, inc.
March Park acts as a public outdoor room for the News Tribune Building, library, and the Beaver Falls community. It plays an important role in bringing the activities of the News Tribune Building out to the public, and equally brings the community to the building’s doorstep.
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Exterior front entry
News Tribune signage
Newly improved roof
NEWS TRIBUNE BUILDING
Site Visit Photos 8
Fallen Wall
Double-height basement space
News Tribune Building Beaver Falls stakeholders, in ongoing conversation with RiverWise, have selected a vacant building and adjacent park to act as a catalytic ecodistrict project. Together, the renovated News Tribune Building and adjacent March Park will be one of the region’s premier examples of sustainable reuse that is responsive to community needs. In 2014, after sitting unoccupied for over three decades, the historic News Tribune Building was acquired by the Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation. Thanks to the visionary leadership and substantial investment of three local families, the roof of the structure was entirely replaced in 2017, stabilizing the building while also providing a beautiful rooftop view of the downtown and the hillside across the Beaver River. Engineering assessments of the facility have been conducted, gutting of the building has commenced, and a team of committed residents have been meeting in earnest throughout 2019 to envision future uses for the space. The building is now slated to house Neighborhood North: Museum of Play, a growing children’s museum being led by a handful of local visionaries. The building, as well as the roof, represent endless opportunities to dream and enact principled, sustainable design that contributes richly to the life of the community. The News Tribune Building is located on 13th Street, adjacent to the Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls. In 2018, Beaver Falls City Council voted to discontinue use of 13th Street so that it could be turned into a park adjoining the library’s property. This new park space, which has long been known to the community as “March Park”, provides an opportunity to extend the program of the museum out to the library and the public. The intent is to create an integrated amenity, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor space, all the while utilizing sustainable building principles and green design throughout. In May 2020, Beaver Falls engaged evolveEA to produce a conceptual design for the building. A conceptual design plan for the park was completed by Klavon Design Associates in May 2020. The News Tribune Building design incorporates elements to represent each of the six ecodistrict quality of life areas adopted by RiverWise and its partner communities. These include a focus on: •
Equity: Children’s Museum
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Food: Cafe and cooking classes
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Water: Stormwater management practices
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Energy: Green construction practices and renewable energy demonstration projects
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Air: Green construction practices and demonstration projects, pollinator gardens, and considerable green space
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Mobility: Location within a walkable community, along a major arterial road
Next, Beaver Falls will solicit for community feedback on the proposed design and will work to acquire funding to construct the Park and renovate the building.
Building Snapshot ~90
years old
three
stories and a basement
15,000
gross square feet
3,550
sq.ft. roof
one
existing means of egress
zero lot line property
“Bringing the ecodistrict priorities to life at the News Tribune Building demonstrates that Beaver County is serious about translating their planning into concrete action.“ Scott Wolovich, Executive Director, New Sun Rising
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Renovation Concept The former News Tribune building is a reinforced concrete structure with considerable mass. This offers opportunities and challenges for renovation. On one hand, the building has inherent durability, and its floor plates can accommodate large-scale installations, common to museum programs. On the other hand, modifications to the building will require intensive structural interventions, which can be costly. There are three major improvements proposed in this renovation concept. The first two would be required for almost any use of the building: 1.
The building requires the introduction of a fire-rated egress stair tower that exits to the front of the building and extends to the roof. Without this second means of egress occupancy would not be allowed on the upper floors and roof. The stair requires penetration of all floors and the construction of a rooftop stair enclosure.
2. All new building systems must be installed. New HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems will be required and existing services must be sized to a public assembly occupancy. In addition, a commercial demonstration kitchen on the second floor will require a specialized exhaust Ansul system.
The roof as community asset
3. A monumental stair becomes a focal point and the main public circulation path through the building. This stair occupies the existing open space on the ground level but requires floor plate penetration at the second and third floor levels. The following are building improvements and site considerations that may require further analysis outside of the scope of this conceptual assessment:
•
• • • • •
•
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Assessing the feasibility of retrofitting the existing elevator shaft. The location is not ideal for public use, nor is its dual use as a freight elevator well suited for transporting for exhibitions. A feasibility study may be necessary to assess the addition of a new passenger elevator at the front of the building. A more extensive code assessment of intended occupancies and uses should be conducted to determine whether a fire-suppression system is required. The zero-lot-line condition of the property needs to be carefully considered to investigate whether exit discharge locations are code-compliant. Loading requirements for exhibitions have not been established for this study, but loading locations and opening sizes may require zoning variances and structural interventions to the envelope. Rooftop HVAC equipment should be coordinated with program areas and a physical and acoustical isolation strategy ought to be considered. Beam depths and low ceiling heights at the basement level may preclude some program elements. Also, a secondary egress from the basement is unresolved in this study and should be assessed based on the International Existing Building Code. The inability to provide parking for a large public assembly use may require zoning variances and collaboration with the local code enforcement body.
The News Tribune Building
NEW FIRE STAIR
EXISTING FIRE STAIR
ROOF TERRACE
THIRD FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
NEW MONUMENTAL STAIR
BASEMENT
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SENSORY-FRIENDLY
PLAY AREA WITH CLIMBER
TODDLER PLAY Images provided by Skolnick Architecture
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
TOY STORE / GIFT SHOP Images provided by Skolnick Architecture
NEWS TRIBUNE BUILDING
Museum of Play - Program Layout Concept 12
LOADING
SENSORY TODDLER
WORKSHOP STOR. MECHANICAL
REAR ENTRY
REST TOILET
PLAY CLIMB
ELECTRICAL DN UP
BASEMENT
TOILET
UP
UP
FOOD+MARKET COOKING DEMO WORKSHOP
EXHIBIT BUILDING
UP
The basement contains one of the defining features of the building: a OPEN TO BELOW 1200 sq.ft. double-height space with abundant natural light. This space is a natural zone for a large-scale play structure. Adjacent rooms can contain smaller child play areas with convenient access to restrooms and a nursing room. The rest of the basement is utilized for storage, staging space, and support areas for building systems. DN
+ MOBILITY
UP DN
Energy: Children’s play area showcases kinetic energy installations.
ALT. LOADING
MAIN ENTRY (ACCESSIBLE)
CLASSROOM
OUTDOOR
UP
DN
GATHER TICKETING
GROUND FLOOR
RETAIL
VISITOR CONTROL POINT UP
DN
COATS OPEN TO BELOW
UP DN
LOADING
A double-height lobby, adjacent to the proposed park/plaza, provides a striking front relationship to the community. The generous size of the lobby provides flexible-use space that can spill out onto March Park. A small cafe could occupy the lobby to engage the public. A partner retail space, such as a toy store, could occupy the length of the building, offering views to the play space in the lower level. A generous coat and stroller room sits adjacent to a family restroom.
WORKSHOP
TOILET STROLLERS
SENSORY TODDLER
PLAY
REAR ENTRY
REST TOILET
Equity: Outdoor classes engage the public, fostering equitable learning environments.
TOILET
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FOOD MARKET + COOKING WORKSHOP
BUILDING + MOBILITY
Images provided by Skolnick Architecture
MAKERSPACE
LIVING THINGS
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Images provided by Skolnick Architecture
FOOD+MARKET COOKING DEMO WORKSHOP
DN UP
OPEN TO BELOW
EXHIBIT BUILDING
UP
+ MOBILITY
DN
DN
SOUNDS + VIEWS
SECOND FLOOR
ENERGY
GARDEN
UP DN
MAIN ENTRY (ACCESSIBLE)
CLASSROOM
OUTDOOR
The second floor offers a cooking demonstration workshop for youth cooking classes. The permanent exhibition space could contain a food + market play space adjacent to the cooking workshop toALT. educate visitors LOADING about food and its relationship to the Beaver Falls Ecodistrict initiative. Building and transportation exhibitions could similarly engage the Ecodistrict quality ofUPlife issues DN of mobility and energy. VISITOR
GATHER TICKETING
RETAIL
CONTROL
DN
TOILET STROLLERS
Food: Cooking workshops and food exhibits spotlight the importance of healthy POINT DN UP food access. Energy: Building exhibits introduce concepts of sustainable design
COATS
Mobility: Interactive transportation installations engage visitors on public transit.
MAKERSPACE CLASSROOM 1 MAKERSPACE CLASSROOM 2
WORKSHOP
THIRD FLOOR
OPEN TO BELOW
UP DN DN UP
LIVING THINGS LIVINGLOADING HISTORY
FLEX + TEMP.
EXHIBITION
TOILET
OFFICE
MEET
REAR ENTRY TOILET
DN
SENSORY TODDLER
REST TOILET
PLAY
The third floor contains a large makerspace room that can be divided into classrooms. Offices and meeting space for museum staff are provided at the rear. The main area is flexible space that can be used for events, temporary exhibitions or rented as shared workspace. UP Possible programs could include a living things interactive exhibition, STOR. MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL or a regional history educational exhibit that focuses on the region’s importance to the underground railroad.
CLIMB
UP DN
TOILET UP
Equity: Visitors can discover Beaver Falls’ role in the underground railroad.
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SOUND ACTIVITIES
ENERGY SCULPTURE
CARNEGIE FREE LIBRARY 16
ROOF GARDEN
Images provided by Skolnick Architecture
PROPOSED MARCH PARK
DN
SOUNDS + VIEWS
ENERGY
GARDEN DN
ROOF TERRACE The roof, which has been extensively improved, provides views of Beaver Falls. It is an excellent location for gardening demos, renewable energy installations and interactive sound activities. An additional means of egress is required at the roof to allow for public occupancy. Food: A roof garden provides opportunities to grow select produce. Water: The roof garden helps visitors engage in stormwater management. DN
OFFICE LIVING THINGS MAKERSPACE LIVING HISTORY Energy: Photovoltaic arrays commitment to sustainable design. CLASSROOM 1 showcase the building’s TOILET Air: Dynamic installations stimulate conversations about the region’s air quality. TOILET UP
MAKERSPACE CLASSROOM 2
FLEX + TEMP.
EXHIBITION
MEET
DN
UP DN
NEWS TRIBUNE BUILDING NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH MUSEUM OF PLAY 17
The former News Tribune Building offers a striking opportunity for a community-facing organization like Neighborhood North. It’s solid construction allows for large-scale interior interventions, and its doubleheight spaces will provide dramatic and memorable experiences. The site’s relationship to a proposed park and the Carnegie Free Library will contribute to the success of the project.
SOUND ACTIVITIES
MAKERSPACE
LOBBY OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
TICKETIN
NEWS TRIBUNE BUILDING
Museum of Play - Concept 18
ENERGY INSTALLATIONS + ROOF GARDEN
FLEX/EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION
OFFICES
COOKING WKSHP
NG
PLAY SPACE
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