Ross Park Shelter House

This is a renovation of the 1,100-square-foot shelterhouse at Ross Park. The primary element of the design solution is a green-roof structure that extends beyond the interior spaces of the building and creates a sheltered outdoor front porch. Opening out to the porch is a 16-foot wide garage door, providing for larger community gatherings. The building includes interpretive features that draw attention to sustainability strategies utilized within the structure. These include the reuse of the existing foundation, use of certified wood and the green-roof element. The basic structural systems consist of conventional wood-framed construction supported over the existing concrete foundation. The front porch is constructed using glulam beams cantilevered 14 feet over an exterior exposed steel-moment frame, providing lateral support for the green-roof structure. The project won an AIA Washington Council Civic Design Award 2007—Citation Award.