GWWO
was initially commissioned by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association to complete
an extensive site and building master planning process for George Washington’s
Mount Vernon estate, which is considered one of the country’s most significant
historic sites. Since the site attracts
approximately one million visitors per year, another critical aspect of the
planning involved strategies for handling large numbers of people in a gracious
and expeditious fashion.
The completed master plan called for a
three-phased project that included the Historic Mount Vernon Inn renovations
and additions, a new 30,000-SF Orientation Center, and a new 41,000-SF Museum
and Education Center.
GWWO began with a $12.3M major expansion to
the visitor orientation and food and gift facilities; which was completed in
Phase I. This project involved designs
for additions and renovations to the existing National Register-listed Mount
Vernon Inn, which was originally constructed by the National Park Service circa
1932. The new complex includes a
200-seat lecture hall, a large gift shop, extensive dining facilities, and a
new formal indoor/outdoor terrace room overlooking a sunken garden courtyard.
GWWO most recently completed phases II and
III of the master plan, which included the $34M design and construction of the
new Ford Orientation Center and new Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education
Center. The new 30,000-SF Orientation
Center serves to welcome visitors to the historic estate, and includes
ticketing, information services, a small retail operation, visitor comfort
facilities and two theatres with total seating for 400.
A second new 41,000-SF facility houses the
new Museum and Education Center. The
Museum showcases objects and artifacts relating to the life and times of George
Washington in 6,000-SF
of exhibit space, including a 1000-SF changing exhibit area. The engaging and interactive Education Center
features multi-media and interactive exhibit galleries, multiple theater
experiences, classrooms and distance learning facilities focused on providing
innovative learning opportunities for school children, families and
researchers. In a separate section, more
traditional
museum galleries showcase objects relating to the life and times of
George Washington.
All of the new facilities were designed with
utmost sensitivity to the site’s historic pastoral setting. In order to minimize impact on the landscape
and to maintain sight lines and views from the estate, a portion of the new
buildings was constructed underground.
The new facilities blend seamlessly with the natural setting. Despite the significant addition of visitor
service facilities, visitors are able to experience the site much as Washington
did over two hundred years ago.
The Ford Orientation Center and Donald W.
Reynolds Museum and Education Center have been recognized with numerous awards
for design and construction excellence; most recently, the Ford
Orientation Center was selected as the 2008 AIA Baltimore Grand Design Award
winner. The projects have also been
featured widely throughout the press.