In 2007, as part of a PlaNYC initiative to create regional destination parks in all five boroughs, the comprehensive master plan design for the 72-acre Calvert Vaux Park was unveiled. Central to this plan was the construction of a Park Pavilion and Maintenance Facility to provide support services necessitated by large recreational facilities, the Parks district headquarters, and local park goers. The concept was developed based on the requirement that five distinct programs (athletic storage, public restroom, staff office, work area, and vehicle storage) be located within one site. The structure now serves as a gateway to the park, framing a visual connection to the landscape and encouraging pedestrian interaction.
On track for LEED Silver Certification, the design includes measures for sustainability and energy efficiency. Strategically positioned skylights mitigate the need for artificial lighting. The building’s roof collects rainwater used to irrigate new plantings, including the vines that grow on its walls. New vegetation is native grown, reducing the need for excessive watering and mitigating the carbon impact on building.
One of the design challenges was to build a single facility that worked both as a hospitable environment for park visitors, but also as a durable facility for the heavy use of park vehicles and maintenance equipment. To cohesively merge those two user groups and those two different uses, the design creates an innovative footprint that merges three connected wings. Facing the playing fields, the building provides amenities for public use. Facing the parking lot, the building opens up to allow access for NYC Parks maintenance vehicles. Connecting these two wings is a volume for NYC Parks employees. To make these different programmatic elements cohere as a single structure, all are set under a pitched roof, creating a recognizable silhouette from different vantage points. The building doubles as a gateway to the park, providing a sense of arrival.
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