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Redesigned beachfront arbor which became campus logo, George Williams College Campus, Aurora University.
Beach area plan also includes terraced seating/viewing area, fully ADA accessible beach, emergency vehicle access, information kiosk. Entire plan sits at the base of a watershed with active springs. Volumetric calculations done at KDG confirm retained areas are subject to extreme hydrostatic pressure which the design, in turn, addresses.
Vintage lantern was saved from an adjacent original structure which was razed.
The next 15 images further depict KDG projects at GWCC.
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Rendered conceptual plan: western portion of shoreline, George Williams College, Aurora University.
Amphitheater is in the center of plan. Shorewalk follows edge of Geneva Lake and was constructed as a stormwater management device with subsurface water quality improvement structure.
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Amphitheater with firepit meeting ADA handicap accessibility requirements, George Williams College Campus, Aurora University.
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Illustrated Master Plan, Allyn Pavilion, George Williams College Campus, Aurora University.
The footprint of a razed significant original building became the edge for the performance level plaza. This project sparked the renaissance of 'Music on the Lake', an event with historic roots to the area and which had been abandoned for several years.
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Conceptual plan, elevation: Allyn Pavilion for the Performing Arts.
Clients may want clarification of aspects of a design drawn in plan-view. Elevation drawings aid in visualizing how a space 'feels'.
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Allyn Pavilion detail, George Williams College Campus, Aurora University.
Given the design constraints of a limited institutional budget, need for a multi-purpose venue, and considerable hydrostatic pressure, this plan provides universal accessibility and multiple viewing levels through the use of a differentially permeable, affordable surface treatment.
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Pavillion offers both a variety of terrace level and lawn seating options as part of the original plan.
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Perspective of proposed beach plan, George Williams Campus, Aurora University.
Beach wall design reflects the geometry, historic precedent, and building massing of the adjacent and historically significant campus administration building.
Additionally, the beachwall is located at the bottom of the watershed and next to three springs located underneath the overlooking plaza. Therefore, it is exposed to extreme hydrostatic pressure which was addressed via site-specific calculations which provided the framework for the design.
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Planview of GWC/Aurora University beach area showing the separation of shorepath and beach recreation, ADA access to beach, and relationship of entire beach plaza to administration building.
Information kiosk can be seen in lower right of plan.
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Image shows shorepath and ADA beach access intersection.
Prominent feature: repeating cap geometry detail is taken from the historic administration building. This allows visual continuity between the existing building and the newly designed site elements.
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Beachwall is designed to withstand an enormous amount of hydrostatic pressure. This pressure, along with the historic precedent of the site and the client's budget, determined the material selected for the wall. The cap ties back to the administration building, and the pattern for the ironwork was chosen for safety, visibility and design integrity.
Beach is ADA accessible.
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Columns are designed to anchor the plaza as well as provide light for way-finding.
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Plaza and wall together stage (in the subsurface) 100-year storm event for 12-hour duration.
Flagstone pavement again reflects the historic period of the administration building and also allows for permeability. Much of the original flagstone was re-used for this plaza.
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Conceptual plans, all to scale, to illustrate specific elements of the design.
Kiosk was placed where a very old , beloved and nearly dead tree had stood. The tree had to be removed due to liability issues. Kiosk serves as a meeting point, as did the tree in earlier times.
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Foreground: One of several seating nodes created along the shorepath. Intention was for both public and college use (small lectures, casual gatherings).
Background: Council Ring fire pit. Grassy pavers provide a way for trucks to deliver wood /remove ashes as well as providing a route for universal (ADA) access. This structure has proved to be immensly popular on the campus.