100 Word Description: In developing a design concept for a long awaited and vital new building for the Department of Social Services for Robeson county, a parallel was drawn between the Lumber River as a Provider for Robeson County and the Department of Social Services as a Provider for the community at large.
Architect’s Statement: SITE- The natural characteristics of the Lumber RIVER that links the community became the inspiration for the layout of the site, as well as many of the design features of the building. The building forms courtyard spaces that are connected by a winding path representing the river. For functional/ security reasons the parking is broken into two separate areas, one for visitor’s and one for employee’s, and is layed out as if winding around the Lumber RIVER. Located between the parking areas are bioswales that are incorporated to collect runoff and provide additional landscaping. The building is also situated for optimal solar orientation and for future expansion or private development. The footprint is conducive to a natural/ garden setting adjacent to walking trails and a water feature.BUILDING-The building is arranged as three separate bars serving different programmatic requirements on two levels, also representing the building similar to the tree canopy along the RIVER. The connection between the three bars is created by a large lobby/ waiting areas that serve a critical function to DSS also linking the separate entries for visitors and the employees of the building. This link is referred to as the BRIDGE and is symbolic to the idea of moving from one path to another path, similar to the goals of Department of Social Services. The circulation paths are located adjacent to the bridge on the south elevation providing a buffer to open work areas while also located along the river’s edge. The building’s solar orientation and depth of 80’ is employed for sustainable strategies and to maximize the connection to the landscape.
Type of Construction: The buildings structural system is a steel frame with bracing designed to work with the idea of BRIDGE and highlighted throughout the building. The exterior skin design is modeled after the cypress trees located along the Lumber River. Cypress trees have a unique base condition, creating strength by flaring out, here represented as 4”x16” polished concrete masonry units with a quarter stack pattern. The random nature of the cypress trees along the river’s edge influences the vertical elements along the south facade glazing portions of the building with a series of bays placed in a random A-B pattern. The horizontal nature of the tree branches determines the window mullion pattern which alternates on the A-B pattern. Spanish moss creates a filter of light, represented in the building as shading louvers on the south elevation. In addition, native cypress wood ship lap siding is incorporated as an exterior material, running horizontally across the building to tie all elements together.
