Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects recently completed the Design Development phase for a 20,000-square-foot building for Crispus Attucks York. Construction should begin in August.
Adorned with innovative design and strengthened with state-of-the-art building methods, the Crispus Attucks History and Culture Center is expected to begin construction sometime in/around August of 2023. The Center will be a landmark structure in the York community, focusing on the African American experience.
The public phase of the capital campaign for the estimated $12 million project began in January 2023, and Architects, contractors, and community leaders are working hard to bring this project to life.
A garden of reconciliation
According to Frank Dittenhafer, co-founder and Principal Architect at Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, there have been few changes to the scope and design of the Center since an early shift of its location to the parking lot just east of the Byrnes Health Education Center.
“It’s been a very engaging and productive schematic and design development phase,” Dittenhafer says.
Some components have been honed to improve the design, he says. While an exterior reconciliation garden long has been part of the plan, it has been reconfigured to fit on the north side of the center. It includes an enclosed terrace and garden for events and reconciliation-themed purposes that can be accessed from inside the building.
The three-story rectangular exhibit and storytelling areas have been modified slightly to maximize the quality of the space for exhibitions, with 6,000 square feet of the 20,000-square-foot building dedicated to these purposes. A ground-level event space will accommodate 120 guests for lectures, concerts, performances, and symposiums. Lower-level classroom and educational areas are included in the design.
Innovative warmth
In a first for York, the Center will be constructed using mass timber instead of steel or concrete, to be more sustainable and environmentally responsible.
The mass-timber technique involves gluing together layered pieces of rapidly renewable wood species to create strong panels that can be shaped into columns, beams, and wall panels. This method results in a building that is lighter on its foundation and footings. The beams are easier than steel to transport, and the exposed wood adds a warm and attractive touch to the building's interior.
As a LEED-certified building, the center will be a model of sustainability and green construction. The mass-timber technique helps the structure earn that energy and environmental design designation.
“We’ve been working very hard on the mass-timber approach, and it looks like it's going to result in a product everyone is excited about,” Dittenhafer says. “We think it's right philosophically. It’s more sustainable, more responsible, and more attractive.”
The center promises to provide a forward-looking and inspiring experience, telling stories of the past while promoting hope for a brighter future. The use of mass timber in construction is a reflection of this forward-thinking approach, making the Crispus Attucks History and Culture Center not just a building, but a symbol of progress and hope.
“This is an extremely important project for us to undertake,” Dittenhafer says. “We’re putting in every ounce of creativity and thought and responsibility we can — to make this a significant new place in York.”
Dittenhafer expects construction to take 15 months, with a ribbon cutting likely in early 2025.
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