New
Ford Orientation CenterThe new
30,200-SF Ford Orientation Center at George Washington’s Mount Vernon welcomes
visitors to the historic estate. The
center includes ticketing, information services, a small retail operation,
visitor comfort facilities and two theatres with total seating for 450, as well
as orientation and education exhibits including “Mount Vernon in Miniature,” a
working model of the mansion. The
theatres feature a 15-minute introductory film about the life of George
Washington.Materials were carefully chosen in order to be
compatible with the estate setting, positioning the new Orientation Center behind
a historic boundary wall prevalent throughout the estate, making it virtually
invisible from the mansion. The Center’s lobby features an elliptical
floor-to-ceiling wall of glass that embraces a picturesque clearing with views
to the pasture beyond. As visitors are
introduced to the myriad of activities available on the estate and plan their
tours, the light-filled space gives them a continuous visual connection to the
site. Upon exiting the orientation theatres, visitors are
re-immersed in the environment as they embark on the “Woodland Walk.” The redesigned circulation paths enable
visitors to experience the approach to the mansion in much the same way that
Washington did hundreds of years ago. Donald
W. Reynolds Museum and Education CenterThe new
41,000-SF Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, a
state-of-the-art complex, featuring multi-media exhibits, classrooms and
distance learning facilities focused on providing innovative learning
opportunities for school children, families and researchers. The new Museum showcases objects relating to the life
and times of George Washington. A
5,000-SF exhibit space features artifacts from Washington’s time. In addition, the education center also houses
a 1,000-SF changing exhibit area.The
facility’s Revolutionary War Theater offers a 12-minute multimedia presentation
showcasing Washington’s role in three major battles – Boston, Trenton and
Yorktown – and provides viewers the ultimate in theatrical entertainment: snow,
rumble seats and fog.Ensuring
that this significant amount of new construction would not overwhelm or detract
from the historic mansion was a critical driver in the design process. By tucking the majority of the large complex
under the four-acre pasture just inside Mount Vernon’s main gate, the design
guarantees that the new building has a quiet presence on the estate. The pastoral setting and viewsheds to and
from the mansion are preserved and traditional Hogg Island sheep, like those
Washington raised, graze in the pasture above.
The
infusion of natural light into the lobby and main circulation corridors at all
levels eases the transition to the lower level, and visitors often never
realize they are underground. The estate
and gardens are open to the public 365 days a year, with varying hours
throughout the summer, fall and winter.