爱豆传媒

Situated in the picturesque Hudson Valley, the Storm King Art Center offers an unparalleled experience where art and nature come together in perfect harmony. This unique outdoor museum invites you to explore a landscape filled with inspiring sculptures and breathtaking natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

In collaboration with聽and + Urban Design, 爱豆传媒 has played a pivotal role in transforming Storm King Art Center into a state-of-the-art facility that seamlessly integrates modern sustainability practices with the site’s natural beauty. From the moment you arrive, you’re immersed in a landscape where art and nature coexist, enhanced by innovative engineering solutions and upgraded visitor amenities.

Hear from Principal, Oliver Meade and Senior Mechanical Engineer, Molly Hazlehurst as they discuss the project’s background, primary goals, and the unique challenges faced. Discover how their collaborative efforts have led to the creation of purpose-built structures that not only preserve the site’s integrity but also support its long-term growth and leadership in the field of art and nature. Learn about the all-electric design, LEED certification, and the strategies implemented to ensure the new buildings are both sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Get to know Storm King Art Center

爱豆传媒 played a pivotal role in transforming the Storm King Art Center from masterplanning to the creation of its first purpose-driven buildings. This collaboration began around 2017/2018, when Storm King was planning an upgrade and interviewing design firms. With a strong cultural portfolio, 爱豆传媒 proposed a visionary idea of full electrification, aligning with New York State’s utility decarbonization goals. This approach resonated with Storm King’s sustainability and climate-oriented ethos, setting the stage for future net-zero carbon operations.

The project is set on a sprawling 500-acre site in New York鈥檚 Hudson Valley, renowned for its large-scale sculptures. 爱豆传媒 initially developed a comprehensive master plan, which included multiple phases and buildings. After evaluating the costs, Storm King decided to proceed with two key buildings: the welcome sequence, featuring ticketing and restroom facilities, and the Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance (CFM) facility, dedicated to preserving and maintaining the art pieces. These purpose-built structures marked a significant departure from repurposed old farmhouses, accommodating the dramatic increase in visitor count and ensuring sustainable growth for the future.

Sustainability and energy efficiency

How did you ensure the new visitor pavilions and conservation building met the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainability? What innovative solutions did 爱豆传媒 implement to ensure the new buildings are sustainable and environmentally friendly?

Oliver: For the welcome project, it is getting LEED certified. We provided all the LEED administration and guidance for the design team, along with energy modeling. The restroom building is fairly large to accommodate visitors who often arrive from far away or by train, making it a priority upon arrival. We recommended and designed a water reuse system, where water from hand washing is treated and reused for toilet flushing. Given the reliance on well water and septic for sanitary needs, and its proximity to a natural waterway, focusing on water conservation and minimizing waste was crucial.

For the CFM building, we planned for it to be all-electric to support decarbonization, and the roof includes a large renewable PV array. The key aspect is that with all-electric systems, the building will be tracking towards carbon neutrality as the grid does the same.

Molly Hazlehurst: We employed several strategies to meet high energy efficiency standards. We designed a VRF heat recovery/heat pump system for heating and cooling the CFM building. This system allows for simultaneous heating and cooling, meaning that heat rejected from spaces like electrical/IT rooms, which require cooling year-round, can be used to heat other spaces within the building. This increases system efficiency by reducing the workload on the heat pumps.

We also collaborated with Storm King to understand the specific needs of each space and designed around relaxed temperature setpoints in workspaces where tight control is often unnecessary. By relaxing setpoints, we reduced the overall heating/cooling peak of the building, thereby decreasing the size of the HVAC system and saving energy compared to traditional designs.

At the welcome pavilion, we designed a grey water reuse system that collects used water from handwashing, treats it, and reuses that water for toilet flushing. This system, along with the use of low flow plumbing fixtures, reduces potable water consumption by 65 percent per flush.

Can you explain the significance of the LEED Gold certification of the new visitor welcome buildings and the steps taken to achieve that?

Oliver: The significance of sustainability certification for Storm King was substantial. Early on, we explored various options, such as the and WELL, but ultimately resolved on LEED due to its broad recognition. As a public, non-profit museum and cultural facility with many visitors, having a certification displayed to the public was crucial to reinforce their commitment to the environment, especially given its outdoor nature.

We provided all the LEED consulting and administration for the project, guiding the design team through achievable credits and necessary design measures. We also assisted the construction team in closing out and completing the project. While it is not fully certified yet, it is on the path to achieving certification.

How did the all-electric design help Storm King secure decarbonization grants and move towards net-zero carbon by 2040?

Oliver: Once the project was designed this way, Storm King applied for several grants. One significant grant was through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (). The grant, aimed at institutions targeting all-electric facilities for decarbonization, provided $600,000 to offset project costs due to the early design decisions we recommended.

Molly: The new welcome pavilion and conservation building feature all-electric designs and incorporate PV arrays at both locations. This ensures that the two new sites have zero operational carbon emissions. Additionally, they have the capability to offset the town’s electrical demand with their own PV plant.

Oliver: If you’re only using utility electricity and no gas on site, your carbon footprint is proportional to the carbon output of the electric utility you’re pulling power from. New York State has committed to fully decarbonizing their electric utility production, which will help Storm King track towards net-zero carbon operations.

Design and integration challenges

What were the biggest challenges in integrating modern MEP systems into the expansive outdoor museum?

Oliver: Our biggest challenge was to minimize active systems as much as possible. Because Storm King is so outdoor-oriented, the restroom building has fully enclosed toilets, but hand washing sinks are outside in the open, making it an unconditioned space. They wanted to connect the processes of a visit to Storm King with being in the outside world. This design spirit guided our work with the larger team.

Molly: Storm King is a 500-acre outdoor museum. Unlike city designs where utilities are readily available at the building’s perimeter, Storm King does not have these conveniences. Our team collaborated closely with civil engineers to ensure essential building services, such as potable water supply, would be accessible via a new well for the CFM building.

What unique considerations were taken into account, given the outdoor nature of the museum?

Oliver: I would say outdoor but also rural. Many of the projects we design are in more utility infrastructure-developed cities or municipalities, whereas Storm King is not in town; it’s in a rural setting. Designing systems where utilities are less accessible was part of the challenge. For example, well water for CFM and sanitary and septic systems for waste. Additionally, frequent power outages due to long transmission lines and many trees had to be considered.

We designed around broader setpoints as well. In the CFM workspace, we are not cooling it at all; it’s only heated, relying on natural ventilation, open doors, and fans. When heating, we aim for a reasonable setpoint of around 50掳 rather than 70掳.

Molly: The design prioritized minimizing HVAC systems wherever possible, given the site’s outdoor focus. Emphasis was placed on building only where necessary to enhance functionality for both guests and artists. The approach was to keep it minimal, focusing on function and efficiency.

Enhancing visitor experience

How did the new welcome sequence and upgraded visitor amenities enhance the overall visitor experience?

Oliver: Before this project, there was a deficiency of parking at Storm King. During peak seasons like fall, visitors often had to park on the highway due to insufficient parking. They have significantly increased parking capacity. Restroom facilities were previously limited to Porta Potties or very few existing building bathrooms. Ticketing facilities consisted of staff outside with remote devices in the elements. To support a large number of visitors, all these amenities needed upgrading.

Dedicated restroom facilities, a dedicated ticketing building, and infrastructure, along with increased parking, were essential. Additionally, the cluster of buildings known as the welcome sequence includes a large outdoor social space between ticketing and the sculpture park, designed with landscape to be the starting point for a visit to Storm King.

Collaboration and future outlook

Can you describe any key challenges faced during the COVID pandemic while working on this?

Oliver: COVID had a significant impact. As a cultural entity, Storm King had to raise funds for the construction of the project while it was being designed. COVID caused a major change in the fundraising process, meaning we had to adjust our design, adding or removing buildings based on the funding picture. We had to be very nimble, working with Storm King to determine the most functional space that could be built with the available funds, while deferring other elements to future stages.

Can you talk a little bit about the collaboration between the architects and landscape architects and their overall influence on the design functionality?

Oliver: Storm King is an outdoor experience, so the balance of designing with the landscape and outdoor experience in mind is crucial. The buildings should facilitate that experience without imposing themselves onto it. More discrete structures that blend into their surroundings and fit in were the key approach.

Looking to the future, how will new facilities and the sustainability framework support Storm King’s long-term growth and leadership in the field of art and nature? What steps were taken to ensure the preservation of the 500-acre site?

Oliver: They now have a modern set of visitor amenities and buildings, which positions them better. They have clearly established that they can execute and complete a project like this while maintaining previously established sustainability and environmental goals. This will allow them to have a much greater visitor quantity each year going forward, which will help them continue to grow and build.

In terms of preserving the site, the idea is to build as minimally as possible, only doing things that benefit and serve Storm King’s mission and purpose. There are many similar institutions with non-urban environments that want to be integrated into their surroundings and have a light touch. Storm King has shown a great way to do that by example.

Molly: Before this project, Storm King lacked a dedicated space for artists to bring their visions to life for new works to be showcased on-site. Artists had to use their own studios or old garages on the premises, which were not designed for woodworking, metalworking, or creating large-scale sculptures. The CFM building now offers a space for tinkering and creativity within a controlled and safe environment.

The Storm King Arts Center project exemplifies the successful fusion of sustainability and modern design within a historic and rural setting. Through strategic planning, innovative solutions, and a commitment to environmental stewardship, 爱豆传媒 and Storm King have set a new standard for cultural institutions. The upgraded visitor amenities and conservation facilities not only enhance overall visitor experience but also pave the way for future growth and leadership in the field of art and nature. As Storm King continues to evolve, its dedication to sustainability and decarbonization will inspire other institutions to follow suit, contributing to a greener and more resilient future.