County of Kings Superior Court
Hanford, CA
Within the constructed landscape, the new Kings County Courthouse will present itself as a territory within a landscape. It will have its own clearly defined edges and presence while still harmonizing with its immediate surroundings.
The transition between residential and commercial zoning challenged the project to create its own rhythm and orientation that will affect the future development of the area. The building is placed near the south-east corner of the site in proximity to the existing jail facility. This relationship allows for the two buildings to be connected by extending the existing underground tunnel.
The design team oriented the building on an east-west axis to capitalize on the energy-reducing advantages of this solar orientation. This passive technique reduces the heat load in the summer and allows the sun to come in during the winter, thereby helping to achieve the overall energy efficiency goals of the project. Additionally, the orientation is aesthetically advantageous, providing a view to the mountains from all north facing offices while keeping the jail primarily out of view.
The courthouse building itself is organized as a simple 4 courtroom-per-floor bar building, with chambers and other services attached to the back side for relatively close access to the courtrooms. Off of the atrium are all counters for each department, creating an open and accessible area for the high traffic volume.
All department and building functions feed off of the separate, secure corridor to the north. A partial basement houses the central holding facility which is accessed only by the northwest stair and the in-custody elevators located between courtrooms. This approach optimizes efficiency by accommodating, through relative adjacencies, the various functional interrelationships of these components while directly enhancing ease of access and security.
The courthouse is expected to be completed by early 2013.
Overland Park Soccer Complex
This new youth soccer complex has exceeded all expectations from players and fans since it held its inaugural tournament in September 2009. DLR Group designed the facility as one of premier soccer facilities in the country with fields and amenities that make it a favorite in the U.S.
Twelve competition fields make up the complex, each with lighting and artificial turf so play can continue and rain delays don’t affect tournaments. 24 youth size fields can also be configured to accommodate local recreation play.
In addition to the twelve competition fields, this complex features Soccer Central, located adjacent to the Championship Field. It includes a grandstand, a 16,000 SF, 2-story Fieldhouse, the Great Lawn, and The Pavilion.
Outside is large outdoor canopied pavilion where team events and medal ceremonies can be hosted and shade and rain protection be provided. The great lawn can be used as kick around areas, a vendor midway, or festivals.
The complex was awarded the Capstone Award for Community Impact from the Kansas City Business Journal in 2010.
Panther Lake Elementary School
Panther Lake Elementary School opens young minds to learning by immersing them in an environment that celebrates the dualities of daily educational experience: work/play, focus/exploration, school/neighborhood.
DLR Group’s design for this first of four new schools strengthens the suburban community by creating a connection with surrounding schools and parks; by providing healthy, sustainable learning spaces that can adapt to meet changing needs over time; and by expressing a bold new vision of the district as a community hub.
Panther Lake is school as connector between district and community, adult and child, people and nature, present and future, reality and aspiration. This project encompasses the design of a 45,000 SF replacement elementary school on a 10.2 acre site serving 450 students in grades K-5. The unique scope of work included the development of a unique, flexible program and adaptable plan; sustainable design meeting WSSP requirements; and archetypal design strategies for this and three subsequent schools.
DLR Group provided architecture, interiors, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering services, and structural engineering during early concept development.
The school’s design has recieved much recognition and won many awards, including: 2009 AIA Seattle “What Makes it Green” Recognition (Honorable Mention), Silver Award-Collaboration by Schooldesigner.com, 2010 IIDA Northern Pacific Design IN Public Award, 2011 Merit Award by the AIA Washington Council, 2011 Schooldesigner.com Best Design Overall Silver Award.
Western Maricopa Education Center
In 2010, an aviation and related specialty training center for high school and adult students was added to the Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC).
The creative use of material and systems coupled with the economies of a pre-engineered metal building provide West-MEC the most most value for its building investment. The 47,000 SF building includes seven classrooms, training labs, meeting spaces, a library, computer labs and offices surrounding a 20,000 SF aircraft hangar which is home to four small planes with ancillary engines and parts for hands-on training.
Expressions from a plane fuselage are found throughout the building, from the exterior shell to the interior lobby lighting details inspired by overhead light consoles in an aircraft. Bright colored banding on the walls emulates the aircraft fetailing on a small plane. These visual cues help students and visitors immediately understand they have entered a place of aviation study.
The main conference room is inspired by the interior of a private jet. Walls angle and merge into the ceiling plane to create the unique impression of being in a fuselage. Similar to the communication tools used to navigate on the tarmac, striping and super-graphics guide users into and throughout the building.
The building won the WESTMARC Best of the West Architectural Innovation Award for its design.
Marysville Getchell High School Campus
Set among second-growth trees, forest wetlands, and with sweeping territorial views, the Marysville Getchell campus is a school that excites a student’s senses with an innovative learning environment.
DLR Group’s design of the new high school enables great flexibility in the administration of student-focused learning. Responding to the District’s adoption of a new, small learning community (SLC) model, the design arranges four, independent SLC buildings around a central Campus Commons. Within each SLC building, a series of interconnected learning spaces support the educational approach described by the District’s Five Guiding Principles: Relationships at the Center, Focused Learning, Identity and Purpose, Community, and Accountability.
Generous glazing and intriguing outdoor learning spaces create sense of connection to nature and community. It’s this openness and connectivity that make every space a learning space at Marysville Getchell, and which encourages student growth as global citizens.
DLR Group was the recipient of the 2011 AIA/CAE McConnell Award for the Marysville Getchell High School Campus design.
