5 minute read
Transforming a quick stop into a memorable stay
Transforming a quick stop into a memorable stay through the power of design
A comprehensive Welcome Centers program in New York redefines what’s expected of a public project
By Olga Gorbunova
Imagine a space where you can enjoy regional specialties and locally grown produce. Where you can learn local history and view historic artifacts. Where your little ones can use their imagination in a custom play area with local inspiration, while your pup enjoys a walk in a comfort area. And where you can even save some time by obtaining a camping or fishing license at an interactive Department of Environmental Conservation kiosk. Would you believe that all of this, and more, can be found at a New York State (NYS) Welcome Center?
In New York, the rest stop—that unassuming place along the highway that provides a respite for drivers who may be fatigued or are simply in need of a break from the road—has been transformed into a regionally influenced cultural destination for locals and travelers alike. This effort was part of the NYS Welcome Center program led by Governor Cuomo’s office, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, Empire State Development, Department of Agriculture and Markets, and local tourism agencies.
The program goal was to create destinations that embody the spirit of a regional community, support the local economy, and enhance the experience for residents and visitors—all while promoting tourism across New York state.
Launched in 2015, the effort brought 11 new Welcome Centers to the state’s tourism regions, redefining the role a public realm project can play in embodying regional spirit. Through our prior relationship with several state agencies, Stantec was brought on to support the design and delivery of seven NYS Welcome Centers: Mohawk Valley in Montgomery County, Southern Tier in Broome County, Long Island in Suffolk County, Western New York in Erie County, Capital Region in Greene County, Adirondacks in Warren County, and North Country in Jefferson County.
Our work focused on all elements from project concept to completion. Over the course of four years, more than 300 Stantec team members from across the country collaborated on this ambitious effort with teams focused on site planning, building design, MEP engineering, landscape design (including stormwater management), and interior programming.
Given its proximity to Rochester, we will take a closer look at the Western New York Welcome Center and touch on the different ways we delivered on the program’s goal. A Stantec team from across the region took part in the project, with our team in Rochester leading the landscape architecture. This fall, the Western New York Welcome Center received the 2020 Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Rochester Chapter.
Embracing local character and sourcing inspiration from an architectural giant
Each of New York’s regions carries a unique history and strong sense of local pride. As we shaped design concepts for the individual Welcome Centers, our team focused on using building design, interior programming, and exterior site elements to express each region’s individuality and history.
Our designers immersed themselves, conducting research and taking site visits when appropriate. For example, the Western New York Welcome Center was heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie style. This style has roots in Buffalo’s architectural heritage with additional references to Wright’s seminal projects, the Darwin D. Martin House, Graycliff, and the demolished Larkin Administration Building.
The single-story building is centered by a high vaulted lobby with sections for dining, tourism, and services. Features include the Taste NY Market, facility vending, indoor/outdoor seating areas, and the entrance lobby. The main entrance is one of many areas designed with Wright's principles in mind. The lobby's signature feature is a tall internally lit glass lantern with overtures to Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas of light and space.
The landscape and architectural design work together in the spirit of Wright to deliver a seamless expression between the indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, the site incorporates a children’s themed play area, and a pet comfort area.
In addition to establishing an iconic architectural style, Frank Lloyd Wright also set a high standard for sustainability in design. When the state asked the team to design a building based around the prairie style Wright created, the entire team leveraged a collaborative design process to incorporate sustainable methods and systems both inside and outside of the building by pairing energy efficient systems and technology with design features that maximize on natural light and effective re-use of stormwater runoff.
A specific programmatic project challenge involved creating a facility of this scale that still maintained the proportions of a prairie style building. The team worked meticulously throughout design studying other prairie style buildings to influence the proportions of the building’s windows and massing.
Special attention was given to the Welcome Center’s architectural details, both exterior and interior, to align with the quality and structural themes inherent to the goals of the project. Sustainable design is rooted in Wright’s philosophy of balancing a natural and local world with modern technologies; the facility includes building management system (BMS)-monitored natural ventilation, radiant floor heating, rainwater harvesting, daylit spaces, locally sourced materials, and electric vehicle recharging stations. The project was developed to minimize environmental impacts and is eligible for LEED certification.
Keeping the building materials local— and durable
The team also specified regionally sourced building products, including utilizing a local pre-caster and engaging the original brick factory in Ohio that supplied materials for Wright’s Martin House.
As a public building with a lot of foot traffic, the designers also selected products with long warranties that ensured quality and durability and made sure that the installation of these materials was inspected and installed per manufacturers’ guidelines. With the owner and the construction manager, the designers provided solutions that enhanced the facility’s architectural beauty and interior function.
Designing for the community
The building engages visitors from the moment they step out of their vehicles by providing a plethora of experiences both inside and outside that focus on the history and culture of Western New York. It is a regionally inspired cultural destination where locals and travelers can observe, listen, touch, and interact as they make their way through the property.
The human scale is integral to the prairie style design. While the building is much larger than a typical building of the style, the designers constantly studied proportions of the building elements to create a space that felt inviting and appropriate.
As designers, architects, and engineers, we play a vital role in making sure projects like this authentically resonate on the local level, while aligning with larger program goals and needs. It’s only when these pieces come together that a program of this scale is truly able to shine in the eyes of the client and end users. q
