VSBA Architects & Planners

Let's wrap up our look at some of VSBA's planning projects with our master planning for a one-of-a-kind art institution.

Storm King Art Centers a renowned outdoor sculpture museum, an expansive series of lawns, trails, fields, groves, and woodlands framed by the Hudson Highlands and set with monumental modern sculptures by notable artists.

Initially, VSBA helped prepare a comprehensive picture of the institution’s campus and develop broad options for future growth.  We studied the interrelation of art, landscape, architecture, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, parking, visitor amenities, operations, and other systems and activities as they relate to the visitor experience and internal function.

We began a new round of planning to implement findings of the strategic plan and respond to a tremendous growth in visitation -- from 50,000 to 130,000 people.  Building on early options, we developed a new arrival-parking-entry sequence, relocating parking from within the grounds to an adjacent undeveloped area.  We developed programs, conceptual designs, and costs for repurposing existing buildings and adding several new facilities for visitor amenities, events, gallery space, education programs, administration, facilities support, and sculpture storage.  Recommended environmental initiatives included forest rehabilitation, storm water management, daylighting streams, and geothermal and solar energy systems.

Today Denise Scott Brown is the perfect age of 93!  (Here she is in 1966, photo’d by an unknown photog.) 

Hooray for Denise and all she has done through her architecture, theory, writing, teaching, photography, and art! 

Visit VSBA at Jefferson University's East Falls campus career fair!  Tomorrow, 9/26 from 11:30am to 2:30pm. We'll be alphabetically placed somewhere; find us!

VSBA worked with Villanova University to develop a roadmap for future campus construction and renewal.  Our goals were to help nurture a beautiful and sustainable campus to support their Augustinian traditions, plan for residential needs, promote new interdisciplinary academic and cultural facilities -- including a performing arts center and library -- and plan for safe and pedestrian circulation patterns.

Over the course of the plan, we developed programs and guidelines for academic and administrative offices; food service facilities at the heart of campus; academic classroom space; student life facilities; and student residences.  We helped the University draft capital budgets for the next 20 years.

Our planning precipitated significant campus changes.  Since our study, Villanova has completed a major campus expansion of residential and mixed-use activity across Lancaster Avenue, including new performing arts center at the campus gateway.  Vehicular traffic has been removed from the campus core and the central campus’s landscape and circulation have been beautifully reformed.

VSBA worked with Brown University to strengthen the quality of student life on campus. Our study encompassed a range of social and community facilities for dining, fitness, study, meeting, gathering, and performing. Our task was to help Brown identify community needs; recommend what, if any, type of campus center or organization and scales of programs would be good for the University; and determine what type of campus center or precinct makes sense for Brown. We also analyzed ways the University can enhance its campus facilities to tie them into educational, administrative, and financial plans and policies.

Our planning and analyses revealed a current lack of a large, centralized facility offering co-curricular activities and services, such as spaces for student activities, dining, and studying. We completed a feasibility, programming, and conceptual design study for a campus center incorporating the existing four-building Metcalf complex.

VSBA worked with Brown University to strengthen the quality of student life on campus.  Our study encompassed a range of social and community facilities for dining, fitness, study, meeting, gathering, and performing.  Our task was to help Brown identify community needs; recommend what, if any, type of campus center or organization and scales of programs would be good for the University; and determine what type of campus center or precinct makes sense for Brown.  We also analyzed ways the University can enhance its campus facilities to tie them into educational, administrative, and financial plans and policies.

Our planning and analyses revealed a current lack of a large, centralized facility offering co-curricular activities and services, such as spaces for student activities, dining, and studying.  We completed a feasibility, programming, and conceptual design study for a campus center incorporating the existing four-building Metcalf complex.

Let's return to our series on VSBA's planning projects!

Wellesley College’s leadership undertook a series of planning initiatives to assess the arts and media, humanities, science and environment, student residential experience, and wellness and sports.

Then Wellesley asked VSBA to synthesize the results from these studies, considering each analysis individually and in relation to the College as a whole.  Our consolidated programming process helped to:

-- identify and address areas of overlap, and gaps, between each of the program plans

-- articulate goals for sustainability, accessibility, and preservation

-- align the College’s goals with projected budgets.

The study helped guide decision-making by clarifying intentions and identifying choices and trade-offs throughout the process.  Our planning helped create an integrated, flexible framework to guide campus development for the next 12 to 15 years.

Headed to the SCUP annual conference in Philly July 21st through 24th?

Then sign up for VSBA's tour of the Community College of Philadelphia's main campus! Recently we helped CCP renovate their music facilities in the historic Mint Building. And now we're collaborating with them for two other exciting renovation projects.

Register and sign up for our tour at https://www.scup.org/

Hope to see you there!

To wrap up our preservation posts, Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania was designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1929. It’s distinguished by its bold, brightly, colorful stencils covering nearly all wall surfaces, and its 30,000-pipe Curtis Organ (designed for the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial).

Venturi, Scott Brown adaptively restored the great hall of Irvine Auditorium as a multi-use performance hall with a 1,200-seat capacity. Renovations provided the auditorium with modern sight-lines and acoustical, lighting, and environmental conditions for music, speech, and organ performances, while we preserved its chromatic architectural glory and its historic organ.

The renovation improved acoustics by removing two side balconies and thereby reconfiguring Irvine into a classic shoebox shape, with acoustic baffles at the sides to reflect sound back to the audience. Removing the balconies also produced two adjacent two-story spaces -- one which became a cafe, the other a 125-seat recital hall. A permanent acoustic shell was added to the expanded stage, projecting sound out to the audience. Moveable absorptive banners were added in the 120' high tower, in order to control the reverberation times.

The decorative stencil pattern at the auditorium interior was completely restored to its original brilliance. Student practice rooms, meeting rooms, a rehearsal hall, expanded lobby spaces, and appropriate backstage spaces are also part of the restoration scheme.

The project won the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia’s Preservation Achievement Award.

(Photos by Matt Wargo)

May is almost over but VSBA's preservation theme rolls on! Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates prepared a program and phased plan for extensive renovations to assist the venerable Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

We moved public functions -- reader services, the reading room, browsing stacks, and microform study -- from the second floor to renovated and restored spaces on the ground floor. The original balconied assembly room, largely demolished when interfloored in the 1970s, was restored as a reading room. Collection storage capacity has been significantly increased by fully utilizing available space and adding compact shelving.

We installed interior vapor-barrier insulation in collections storage areas to maintain required temperatures and humidity. We incorporated an insulated interior glazing system, preserving the original windows; restored selected masonry elements and all interior finishes; incorporated all new HVAC and building systems; designed new building signage; and enhanced accessibility throughout. Renovated public spaces and collection storage areas are served by a new chilled water plant and humidity control system designed to maintain environmental conditions within strict ranges needed for collection conservation. UV shielded lighting and fire suppression equipment were added to renovated areas, and the security system was upgraded throughout.

(Photos by Matt Wargo)

Dumbarton Oaks offers important Pre-Columbian and Byzantine collections and a library as well as a series of noteworthy gardens by landscape architect Beatrix Ferrand. Its 1800 Main House includes an historic Music Room and other additions by McKim, Mead and White, and Philip Johnson’s 1963 Pre-Columbian Gallery.

VSBA’s revitalization focused on redefining the public realm and its relationship to galleries, restoring historic interiors, replacing HVAC and building systems, introducing new interior glazing, ensuring universal accessibility. We seamlessly integrated state-of-the-art environmental, fire protection, lighting, and security systems throughout. We renovated the collections storage facility and created new spaces for research support. New amenities include a museum shop, an orientation gallery, a new entry, and new restrooms. For the Philip Johnson Pre-Columbian wing, we replaced all curved glazing with insulated glazing, restored interior finishes, restored the fountain, added new lighting and roofing, and created a ramped entrance for accessibility.

Renovation of the Main House was one of a series of design and renovation projects VSBA completed for Dumbarton Oaks, which included design of a major new library building.

(Photos by Matt Wargo)

Just as we started a new series on planning, we realized that May is National Preservation Month! So for the next two weeks, how about we explore VSBA’s preservation projects (then return to planning)?

First up -- a few years ago, VSBA completed rehabilitation of the landmark Guild House, one of Robert Venturi’s earliest built works. Guild House was designed to serve the elderly. We modified five apartments to meet current accessibility requirements and equipped some units for hearing and visually impaired residents.

Our rehabilitation provided new systems throughout for heating and cooling, automatic sprinklers, fire alarm, and emergency lighting; a new security call system to the manager’s office and front door; a new emergency notification system with ADA compliant pull-cord devices in all units; electrical upgrades such as new digital accessibility wiring and devices for telephone, Internet, and TV access for all apartments; and external cameras. New amenities include offices for a social worker and visiting care providers and a Wellness Room with exercise equipment, ping pong and pool tables, a large screen TV, and interactive fitness video games.

Exterior repairs included replacement of worn original aluminum windows with new units -- including insulated low-emittance glazing for improved thermal performance -- replacement of damaged bricks, and the addition of horizontal control joints at relieving angles. The iconic “GUILD HOUSE” sign was restored to its original font and color scheme.

It's been a while since we've done a series about one of our project types. Howabout we explore the planning in VSBA Architects & Planners?

First up, VSBA’s master plan for Haverford College campus re-animates the historic campus core while shaping new connections. We analyzed the scheduling of classrooms and social spaces and found that current needs could be met by making better use of existing facilities through minor alterations and scheduling changes. We recommended growing within existing space when possible and suggested uses for both existing and new structures. Maintaining and augmenting the primacy of Founders Green in the hierarchy of outdoor spaces supports a coherent sense of the College as one place, one community.

Haverford’s Quaker roots suggested decision-making by consensus, so every member of the campus faculty, student body, and staff was invited to participate in the planning process. We conducted over 400 interviews and worked closely with a Steering Committee of faculty, staff, and students to develop the plan.

Our planning won SCUP’s Honor Award for Planning for an Established Campus, the AIA Pennsylvania’s Citation of Merit, and the Tri-State AIA’s Merit Award.

We’re so happy to announce that VSBA has completed a new entry pavilion and accessibility upgrades at Philadelphia's historic St. Mary's Episcopal Church!

Our entry pavilion creates a new face for the building and a comfy, bright transition from the entry into the church. It’s large enough for people to meet and linger, and a natural wood ceiling adds warmth. Outside, we renewed a bluestone terrace, great for small gatherings or even services.

VSBA also worked inside the sanctuary to promote universal accessibility. We replaced an existing stair up into the sanctuary to accommodate a new lift. We modified mechanical, electrical, and structural systems, improved life safety, and gently integrated all new elements within the historical nave and sanctuary spaces.

Photos by the amazing Matt Wargo, whom we always forget to properly credit!

One day late but it's good all year.

Happiest 92nd birthday to Denise Scott Brown!, born Denise Lakofski in Nkana, Northern Rhodesia on October 3, 1931 -- and going strong ever since!

VSBA-ites, please give a rowdy welcome to new architectural staff member SHAYNA LORD!

Shayna joins us from Drexel University and several previous firms. In addition to architecture, Shayna is a skilled musician.

Grateful to have you aboard, Shayna!

VSBA’s Matthew Yoder just participated in the Preservation Alliance's tour of the Community College of Philadelphia's historic Mint Building.

Q: "Matt, you just toured CCP’s Mint Building and presented our renovation of their music facilities. On a scale of one to awesome, how awesome was it?"

A: “Very! The Mint Building is wonderfully intact and full of surprises -- from the mosaic tile vaulted entry ceiling in the main stair hall to the steel plates in the floor assemblies, designed to prevent intrusions! The College is doing a wonderful job as steward to the building, adaptively reusing the stout structure to provide new program spaces.

I really enjoyed presenting some of the technical aspects and challenges of our music studio renovations and learning about the library renovations that now occupy the minting room. One participant said she had no idea that CCP had such modern facilities and programs and she’d love to sign up for some classes.”

(Images from CCP's presentation.)

VSBA is hiring! We’re seeking PROJECT ARCHITECTS with 3-5 years experience and ENTRY LEVEL ARCHITECTURAL STAFF with 1-3 years experience for the design of upcoming academic, health care, and cultural projects. You should be skilled in Revit, AutoCAD, and Adobe. To apply, please go to www.vsba.com/employment.

Meet VSBA’s summer intern, Irving Shen! Irving just joined up and already he’s working away on our academic and health care projects.

So here are Three Things You Should Know About Irving:

1: Irving is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago -- and he’s particularly interested in how humor can play a role in architecture

2: Irving’s favorite band is Melt the Band.

and 3: What are two things Irving can’t live without? Coffee and cycling.

Say hi to Irving!

Tomorrow, VSBA principal Seth Cohen will guide a group from the American Planning Association's National Planning Conference through our South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center. If you're a part of the tour, we're looking forward to seeing you there!

(And if you're not, then check out the Center by going to the library, making a CHOP or Health Clinic appointment, or visiting the playground!)