MURPHY & DITTENHAFER ARCHITECTS DESIGNS CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF ANNAPOLIS

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects recently completed interior renovations to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Annapolis’ (UUCA) church in Annapolis, Maryland.

The initial project improved the accessibility of the existing building and updated it to better accommodate fellowship, ministry, and religious education programs. Updates to restrooms and a new, centrally-located elevator connecting the two levels have made the facility 100% ADA accessible.

In addition to accessibility improvements, the project also included aesthetic upgrades and renovations, addressing durability, maintenance, and sustainability to support the goals of the Church. Murphy & Dittenhafer worked with the UUCA building committee to select materials that focused on sustainability, such as tiles composed of rapidly-renewable ingredients and carpet tiles with high recycled content.

The interior renovations were completed between August and November 2015.

Since the congregation has outgrown their worship and meeting spaces, the UUCA also engaged Murphy & Dittenhafer to design a larger, flexible, and more inspiring worship space, and an improved Narthex to promote conversation before and after services.

As part of a comprehensive master planning process, Murphy & Dittenhafer recommended designs for a 6,000-square foot worship space addition with lower-level meeting rooms, classrooms, and storage space. The timeline for construction of this future expansion has not been determined, but when built, it will provide the UUCA with a new 500-seat sanctuary with ample space for the congregation to collectively worship, with unfixed seating that can be rearranged in various configurations.

Construction of a spacious new Narthex would bridge the gap between the old and new spaces; enclosed by a segmented, floor-to-ceiling glass wall and natural materials, including locally-harvested stone, wood decking, wood beams, and a flat-seam copper roof.

The UUCA is located within the Chesapeake Bay critical area zone, so the proposed project site design for a future expansion reflects a rigorous approach to preserving the existing natural on-site vegetation and minimizing construction disturbance.

MURPHY & DITTENHAFER ARCHITECTS DESIGNS RENOVATIONS TO FORMER LAFAYETTE CLUB BUILDING

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects was commissioned by York College of Pennsylvania to renovate the former Lafayette Club building at 59 East Market Street in downtown York. The 20,000-square foot facility will house the York College Center for Community Engagement and provide Hospitality Management students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in classroom and event space.

Murphy & Dittenhafer was charged with repurposing an unusual assemblage of rooms to meet York College’s needs, as well as improving the building’s accessibility and preserving its historical features, such as its stained glass, wall murals, a spiraling staircase, fireplaces, decorative millwork, and the Lafayette seal featured in the entryway carpet.

“It really is a privilege to be the architect for this important adaptive reuse project in downtown York, to collaborate with York College, and to facilitate moving this whole effort forward,” says Frank Dittenhafer II, FAIA, owner and co-founder of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects. “The new space will create an engaging, new, fresh environment while maintaining the building’s heritage.”

Beyond the improvements to the building itself, the project is a step toward fulfilling York College’s commitment to be an active partner in downtown York’s redevelopment.

“A physical location for York College in York City - right across from its historic hotel, and at the intersection of our vibrant Market/Arts District and Royal Square - speaks to the College’s commitment to being part of York’s renaissance,” says Dr. Dominic DelliCarpini, Dean, Center for Community Engagement. “At this location, we will host community conversations, provide educational offerings to both our students and other community members, and become a campus link that will draw our students and faculty into the City. This historic location will house a new confederation of public/private partnerships as we join the many leaders in York who are committed to this work. We are honored and humbled to be part of the new history we are writing.”

The $1.5M project is underway, beginning with roof replacement and envelope repair. The next phase of construction will begin this month. York College plans to open the renovated facility for Hospitality Management classes and the new Center for Community Engagement in time for the Fall 2016 semester.

Sarah's Hope Site Improvements

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects completed the renovation of a 1931 school building to expand the Sarah’s Hope Transitional Housing Facility for Women and Children in early 2015. The $7 million project, commissioned by Baltimore City Department of General Services and St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, comprehensively renovated the 38,000-square foot facility.

Now that this interior renovation is complete and Sarah’s Hope is using the building to its full capacity, Murphy & Dittenhafer has also completed plans for site improvements that will develop the surrounding 1.34-acre site.

The site improvements project will transform the existing urban site within the historic Old West Baltimore district from 95% asphalt and concrete into a welcoming and engaging green space that can provide outdoor program and leisure space for the women, children, and men served by Sarah’s Hope and the surrounding Sandtown-Winchester community.

This new, reclaimed green space will provide an outdoor sanctuary that facilitates a safe and engaging, sustainable setting and enhances the aesthetics of the greater neighborhood. The space currently includes 46,000 square feet of asphalt and concrete that limits its use for outdoor programming. Murphy & Dittenhafer’s plan will replace it with flexible open lawns, age-appropriate play equipment, and outdoor program space for both Sarah’s Hope and the PACT Therapeutic Nursery, which offers specialized care for children from infant through three years and their families who have been displaced from their homes. Landscaping will be carefully designed to create a sense of home for residents, increase shade, add aesthetic interest, and improve visibility across the site - a critical feature for security and safety.

The site will be regraded to improve ADA accessibility, and will reconfigure parking for more efficient vehicular delivery and better pedestrian access. The design treats 100% of roof and site rainwater run-off through improved stormwater management practices.

The project will drastically reduce the amount of impervious surface coverage from 46,000 square feet to 19,000 square feet, a substantial reduction that requires extensive coordination of existing soil types, landscaping, stormwater management regulations and best management practices, and adjacent properties, including an existing CSX railway line. Existing grading conditions, including a change of nearly 12 feet in elevation from the building’s first floor to the street level, will be reconciled to provide ADA accessibility and still accommodate the play areas, open spaces, and other new uses of the site. Security will be strategically planned for client safety.

Construction for the $1.2 million site improvements project is slated to begin in early 2016 and last approximately nine months.