Lakewood’s desire to create a more relevant, accessible, and inviting experience led to the holistic reassessment of the greater site and the design of a new Welcome Center. Key to Lakewood’s progressive mission, the Welcome Center and its landscapes will provide the cemetery with a new front door that is welcoming to all races, genders, ages, and religions. In addition, it will house community gatherings, visitor orientation, interaction between Lakewood and its families, and connections to the cemetery grounds. The building includes a welcoming lobby, community spaces, and a family services wing, all easily accessible on the first floor, as well as administrative workspaces above.
As a 150-year-old institution, Lakewood’s value of stewardship of resources is embodied by the Welcome Center’s net-zero energy use, despite its location in one of the coldest climates in the country. The site design embraces native and adaptive plantings and supports Lakewood’s classification as an accredited Level 2 Arboretum. The Welcome Center’s architecture and landscape carefully balance tradition with innovation and will set the stage for Lakewood’s next 150 years. This project is a collaborative design effort between Snow Kreilich Architects, TEN x TEN Landscape Architects, and Miller Dunwiddie with sustainability advising by Cause.