Briefly describe the design highlights or unique features of this project:

A large building over 70 years old sits at the head of a large gathering space overlooking a picturesque lake front at Camp Wayne for Girls. Matching smaller green buildings with white trim stud the rolling landscape. During the summer months, the lower level of this building hosts a large commercial kitchen streaming cisterns of hot food to a dining room full of laughing campers and staff at each mealtime. Upstairs staff takes a moment of peace tucked away from the buzz of camp activities and campers participate in art classes and music lessons. After undergoing a series of additions to accommodate a diversity of uses over its many years, the façade of the building lost any sense of identity and grandeur that should accompany such an important building to character and workings of the overnight camp. Additionally small windows and congested front porch limited any enjoyment of the building’s greatest asset – its beautiful waterfront view. JHA assisted the owners to develop a plan to alter the building once again, this time with emphasis on celebrating the waterfront, restoring its façade, and expanding its usable area, inside and out all while maintaining the core features that connect it to the rest of camp’s structures. After reviewing several concept options and ideas that may achieve the owner’s goals, the final design included an addition onto the serving area with roof deck overlooking the lake and expanded front porch with enclosed art room up above.

What specific challenges did you face during this project, and how did JHA Companies solve them?

The biggest challenge was finding a way to maximize the usable area while avoiding adjacent structures and utilities. Additionally, the camp is constructed on a hillside, so accessibility was a challenge.