East Park Canoe House Ribbon Cutting
On March 9th, the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated East Park Canoe House. This 1914 Spanish Mission Revival style building, designed by Walter T. Smedley, is located on the Schuylkill River along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park and is a contributing feature to the National Register Historic District of Fairmount Park. After suffering serious deterioration and closing in 2008 due to structural failures, SMP led the design efforts to extensively rehabilitate the interior and exterior. Now restored to its original use as a boathouse, the space will be shared by the Temple University rowing and crew teams and the Philadelphia Police Marine Unit.
Grand Opening for Frances Slocum Environmental Education Center
On August 26th, Frances Slocum State Park celebrated the grand opening of their recently expanded Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center. The new expansion provides an updated facility for environmental education, park programming, and interpretation while immersing park visitors in the natural environment. The Center includes interior and exterior educational spaces, staff offices, exhibit space, and public restrooms. At the opening ceremony, Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said, "This building will really serve the youth of this area and open their eyes to the environment and to the outdoors.”
GFS Science Center Published
The Wade Science Center at Germantown Friends School has been published as a case study in Energy Accounts, published by Routledge in 2016. With text written by SMP Principals David Ade and Todd Woodward, the building at GFS is cited as an example of environmentally responsible and regionally appropriate architecture. Subtitled "Architectural Representations of Energy, Climate, and the Future", Energy Accounts seeks to understand approaches to accounting for, representing, and designing around issues of energy use and performance.
Nature Inn is #1!
The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle has been named the Best Eco-Friendly Hotel by USA Today. The Nature Inn is a LEED Gold, SMP design building for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is located at Bald Eagle State Park in Howard PA. Thanks to all who voted for this award-winning project, and to all who choose environmentally responsible lodging when they travel. For more information on the Nature Inn and the 10 Best Eco-Friendly Hotels, visit this link.
Writers House Honored by Preservation Alliance
The Writers House at Rutgers-Camden, designed by SMP Architects, was recognized by the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia with a Grand Jury Award. Originally known as the Henry Genet Taylor House at 305 Cooper Street, the building was designed by Wilson Eyre. The Writers House includes classrooms, meeting space, and a design lab for digital writing programs. It will host the annual Writers in Camden series, student readings, special events, and house the offices of StoryQuarterly, a literary journal published by the master of fine arts program. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was sensitively renovated to maintain its historic character.