— Et Cetera
institutional, in construction, pro bono, prefab

A New Arts Center for The White Mountain School, Part III

Since our last blog post on the new art studio building that we designed for The White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH, there has been some dramatic progress; not as much as the aggressive original schedule called for but amazingly enough we have received a temporary Certificate of Occupancy for the ground floor dance studios and classes have begun! We may not yet have finished exterior siding, a fully operational geothermal heating system, or a paved parking lot, but we do have a spectacular custom fabricated laminated wood curtain wall facing out to the White Mountains and one of the most beautiful white cedar entry bridges imaginable, and we will soon have arts studios that will rival those of many larger schools. The excitement is building!

 

The new arts center in context, with the School’s main building in the background. We sited the arts center to align with a future theater addition to the right of the main building; the entry bridge will soon connect to steps leading up to the main theater.
The new arts center in context, with the School’s main building in the background. We sited the arts center to align with a future theater addition to the right of the main building; the entry bridge will soon connect to steps leading up to the main theater.
We designed the arts center to be tucked into its hilly terrain, with the hill serving as a natural amphitheater, and entry to the new arts studios accessed by way of a bridge. The bridge will double as outside studio space in good weather.
We designed the arts center to be tucked into its hilly terrain, with the hill serving as a natural amphitheater, and entry to the new arts studios accessed by way of a bridge. The bridge will double as outside studio space in good weather.
Since our last blog post, one substantial change has been the new curtain wall facing up and out to the White Mountains. Here Bensonwood is installing the Marvin windows onto the custom fabricated laminated Nordic black spruce curtain wall structure from a company in Canada called Nordic.
Since our last blog post, one substantial change has been the new curtain wall facing up and out to the White Mountains. Here Bensonwood is installing the Marvin windows onto the custom fabricated laminated Nordic black spruce curtain wall structure from a company in Canada called Nordic.
A mostly solid bay window floats within the glazed curtain wall, adding a degree of mystery and dynamic visual energy to the composition of the façade. Inside the bay window is a long window seat for the music studio.
A mostly solid bay window floats within the glazed curtain wall, adding a degree of mystery and dynamic visual energy to the composition of the façade. Inside the bay window is a long window seat for the music studio.
The cedar structure of the bridge is conventional post and beam but absolutely gorgeous, and will be visible at night through the cedar slatted siding.
The cedar structure of the bridge is conventional post and beam but absolutely gorgeous, and will be visible at night through the cedar slatted siding.
Bensonwood used some of the most beautiful cedar we have ever seen, tight grain and clear and consistent color. The source is a trade secret…
Bensonwood used some of the most beautiful cedar we have ever seen, tight grain and clear and consistent color. The source is a trade secret…
Inside, the Music Studio bay window interrupts the rhythm of the curtain wall but adds a contemplative place to sit and create or stare out to the White Mountains.
Inside, the Music Studio bay window interrupts the rhythm of the curtain wall but adds a contemplative place to sit and create or stare out to the White Mountains.
The floor to ceiling laminated spruce curtain wall of the Art Studio gestures up and out to the White Mountains. The spruce is made from only the “tips” of trees, which otherwise would have been trash.
The floor to ceiling laminated spruce curtain wall of the Art Studio gestures up and out to the White Mountains. The spruce is made from only the “tips” of trees, which otherwise would have been trash.
A volunteer group of WMS, Creative Edge Dance Studio, and Bensonwood folks came together on a Saturday to install the sprung floor panels for the dance studios. Above is the large dance studio.
A volunteer group of WMS, Creative Edge Dance Studio, and Bensonwood folks came together on a Saturday to install the sprung floor panels for the dance studios. Above is the large dance studio.
A wall of mirrors reflects and expands the distant mountain views in the smaller of the two dance studios. All lighting in the building is LED.
A wall of mirrors reflects and expands the distant mountain views in the smaller of the two dance studios. All lighting in the building is LED.