Known among its peers for excellence and innovation, the Springfield-Greene County Parks Board requested a maintenance facility to support parks staff responsible for downtown parks. The site – a bluff adjacent to urban greenway and a highly-visible public park area – is unexpectedly prominent for such a humble use. The site within Jordan Valley Park suggested an additional use: a rooftop café, convenient to park patrons and downtown visitors.
The solution is an expression of these functions. The maintenance facility is burrowed into the bluff, its roof creating a pedestal for the café and a small suite of park management offices. The structure above is intended to be like an open rooftop pavilion.
Innovations include a “butterfly” roof which allows rainwater to be collected efficiently and then harvested, use of local materials, pervious paving methods, and extensive daylighting. The facility is LEED® certified at a Silver level.
Awards: Merit Award, 2014 - AIA Springfield Design Awards