The Overlook Pavilion at the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens is the architectural anchor to the University’s Arboretum; Recent winner of 2010 Texas Society of Architects’ Design Award and also seeking LEED Silver certification
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., August 5, 2010 – The long-awaited first phase of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens’ master plan of The Arboretum at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is complete. The highlight of the project, the Overlook Pavilion, serves as the architectural anchor and the “front door” to the 365-acre Arboretum at Penn State. It was designed by San Antonio-based Overland Partners Architects, in association with Pittsburgh-based MTR Landscape Architects, with the dual goal of creating a vibrant educational center and a first-class events center that contributes to the education and quality of life on campus and offers an opportunity for the community to engage with the University.
Phase II of the Arboretum’s H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens’ master plan includes the plantings of species from around the world and new state-of-the-art educational and research facilities, including a visitors’ center, conservatory and children’s education center. Once complete, The Arboretum and its H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens are expected to be a major cultural and tourist destination in central Pennsylvania, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors annually.
The Overlook Pavilion’s main purpose is to create distinct exterior spaces and house services for the Arboretum. It is comprised of two stone volumes that are tied together with a soaring roof structure and exterior porches made of steel and wood. The stone volumes contain public restrooms, volunteer offices, tool storage and mechanical spaces, while the roof structure and porches create a variety of outdoor areas and terraces to allow people to gather in small groups or for events accommodating up to 200 guests. It sits on the Arboretum’s highest point, acting as the link between the botanical gardens and event lawn to the south and the natural landscape and watershed to the north.
Currently seeking LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the Overlook Pavilion uses efficient geothermal ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling, utilizes local and recycled content materials, contains a reflective roof to reduce the heat island affect, and employs an innovative stormwater management system to educate visitors while using the collected water on site. These “green” systems support the overall sustainable strategy of decreasing the impact of the structure by reducing enclosed conditioned program space and by providing visitors and staff comfortable exterior space.
Another benefit of the Overlook Pavilion is that its exterior spaces can be used throughout the year, utilizing natural ventilation (to block severe winter wind and/or rain) and shade protection (to block the sun). The structure of the building also shapes the visitor experience and protects the visitor from undesirable site impacts. By eliminating these distractions, it helps visitors focus on the Arboretum message.
“Each year from April to November, the event terrace will be covered by an elegant white tent anchored to the stone buildings and tilted down to the southwest, which will block winds and weather. At night, the space under the tent can be lit to create a beautiful space for events. The complex is also wrapped in plantings to the north and south, which recall the richness of the Appalachian forests while reinforcing the views to the east and the west,” said Kim C. Steiner, director of The Arboretum at Penn State.
“Since its opening, the Overlook Pavilion has undoubtedly become part of Penn State life and part of the treasured memories that students will have of their time at the University,” added Steiner.
The Overlook Pavilion was recently honored with a 2010 Texas Society of Architects (TSA) Design Award, which honors outstanding architectural projects throughout the U.S. that promote public interest in architectural excellence.
The Overlook Pavilion at Penn State marks the second project that Overland Partners has completed at the University, the other being the LEED Gold certified School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, completed in 2005. Other higher education institutions within their design portfolio include the new Business School Building at Baylor University in Waco, Texas; the new Academic Building at the University of North Texas at Dallas; the new Student Activity Center and School of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin; the new Continuing Education Center at Rice University in Houston; and the new Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
ABOUT OVERLAND PARTNERS
Overland Partners Architects, founded in 1987 in San Antonio, Texas, is a realization of a vision to bring together a wide range of talents in architecture and planning, in order to provide comprehensive design services. Sensitive to the environmental and aesthetic contexts of their projects, the firm strives for a thoughtful integration of technology, art, and craft through highly sustainable solutions. Overland Partners Architects offers its clients the ultimate goal of creating a beautiful, functional and enduring design through a process that inspires long-term relationships and is rewarding to the entire project team. For more information, visit www.overlandpartners.com.
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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191
