Outerbridge Horsey Associates, PLLC

This project proposal involves the complete renovation of the existing Visitor Center at Stratford Hall Plantation, and the construction of additions to the Center to expand the exhibition areas and curatorial storage and administrative offices. Work completed by April 2008 includes due diligence structural and mechanical inspections, existing building measured drawings, complete programming services and the completion of the concept design and preliminary project budget. The design of the completed building (10,000 SF) will be sustainable and LEED certified.

Architectural Analysis and Review of Existing Conditions included a general building review and conditions assessment of the DuPont Library and Visitor Center to review its compatibility with existing building codes and ADA compliance. The site and buildings were then inspected by a civil and geotechnical engineer, and existing conditions drawings prepared.
During the mechanical engineering analysis, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were inspected. We were aware that the mechanical systems were at the end of their useful life, so the review also explored the feasibility of replacing these systems with an energy efficient geo-thermal heating and cooling system that would provide environmental control for the DuPont Library, the Visitor Center and the new facility.

The program and concept design evaluation provided an extensive review of current and future space needs for staff, collections storage and exhibition and meeting space. The architect employed this data to produce recommendations, cost estimates and concept designs for the renovation of the existing facilities and construction of a new building.