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The Town of West Hartford has announced that GWWO Architects has been selected to design the new Elmwood Community and Cultural Center.
Ronnie Newton
The town’s vision for the new Elmwood Community Center and Cultural Center at 100 Mayflower Street is one step closer to becoming a reality, with the selection of GWWO Architects to design the new facility that will accommodate multi-generational and multi-cultural uses and include not only Community centers also include library branches, youth centers, and senior centers.
Mayor Shari Cantor announced the selection of GWWO Architects during Monday’s State of the Town address, noting that they were chosen because of their focus on “cultural and educational projects with an emphasis on inspirational, evocative and progressive design.” Cantor said the firm’s response to the town’s request for proposals described their story-based approach to design that “encourages discovery, facility collaboration and invites exploration” and will ensure “no space is fully utilized,” she said.
“The new Elmwood Community Center will also house our branch library and teen and senior centers, and it will be a vibrant gathering place for all ages,” Cantor told We-Ha.com on Wednesday. “Selecting the best architect who can work with our community to meet the needs of all users is critical. GWWO Architects’ portfolio is impressive. I’m excited to take this important first step to bring this facility to life Elmwood becomes a reality.”
Kate Scurlock, senior associate at GWWO, will lead the design team. GWWO is headquartered in Baltimore, where she has worked for more than 10 years, but Scurlock returned to her hometown in 2022 to open a West Hartford office, which has grown and now houses a team of professionals.
GWWO only works on cultural and educational design projects, Scurlock said, adding that the unique mix of uses planned for West Hartford will provide them with tremendous opportunities to combine the best of their professions and combine multiple aspects Together to foster creativity and connection.
“Elmwood has a very unique project and opportunity,” she said in a phone interview Wednesday, and they will use that to their best advantage in the design to spark ideas from the community and encourage those who might visit for some reason. of people are also exposed to other activities and services that the Elmwood Community and Cultural Center will offer.
“The great ideas of this project will be reflected in the design, materials and flow of the building, reflecting the character of the community and the site,” said Scurlock. “We really want the community who visit this building to feel that they are represented. “
Several concept plans were developed by Tecton Architects, the architectural firm selected to conduct a feasibility study for the facility as the town initially considered whether to repurpose all or part of St. Brigid’s School or build an entirely new structure. One of the concepts was unanimously selected early last year by a working group of town staff, a 25-person volunteer advisory committee and town council members, and it is scheduled to be used in the RFP process for the design effort.
“The Tecton team did a great job identifying what spaces the building needed,” Scurlock said. The featured rendering is Tecton’s vision for an approximately 82,000-square-foot building, and Scurlock said that while they don’t have their own rendering yet, the final design will be developed based on that vision and will ensure spaces within the building work best with each other.
“We will also be optimizing the site,” she added, which is adjacent to the beach park but is currently fenced off by a chain link fence. “The idea is to really engage with the park,” she said. This was one of the main objectives, along with a focus on sustainability, maximizing views, daylight and sunshine.
“We wanted to consider the entire site and respect the neighbors and the environment,” Scurlock said.
“We’re also trying to understand how to best represent the West Hartford and Elmwood communities.” The new facility will be unique and look different from any other community center in any other town.
“We are excited to partner with GWWO on this important project for our community,” Town Manager Rick Ledwith told We-Ha.com. “The new center is designed to bring together educational, recreational, social and cultural activities to make it a unique and welcoming destination that reflects the vibrant character of West Hartford.”
In the announcement of GWWO’s selection, the town noted: “Through exploration of built form and materials—and a deep understanding of the client’s story, project context (cultural, historical, and natural) and goals—GWWO creates sites that express each individual specific amenities that serve the client’s mission and anchor the community physically and symbolically.”
GWWO’s portfolio includes more than 30 community center projects, with some recent projects including Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center, Berks Nature The Rookery, Niagara Falls State Park Welcome Center, New Carrollton Library, Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center and the O’Connor Center for Leisure and Wellbeing. The collage below includes images of several of their projects.
“We are very excited to have a project so close to home,” Scurlock said. The Northwest Catholic High School graduate said she is very familiar with the property and actually used to play basketball in the gymnasium at St. Brigid School on the Mayflower Street property.
In announcing its selection of GWWO, the town noted that the firm’s work has been recognized for its design excellence and sustainability with numerous awards at the local, regional and national levels.
Construction on the Elmwood Community and Cultural Center project is expected to begin in 2025.
Tecton’s feasibility study estimates the project’s price tag to be approximately $66.5 million, including contingencies for demolition of the former St. Brigid’s School, site preparation, environmental remediation, soft costs and anticipated cost increases.
According to Ledwith’s “budget briefing” on the proposed fiscal 2025 general fund budget and capital improvement plan, the town will consider appropriating $3 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds “to develop plans and specifications for new construction.” In addition, the second year of the CIP includes $5 million for construction management and other services. The third year of the CIP is planned to provide $55 million in bond funding for the construction of the facility.
The town purchased the 8.5-acre former St. Brigid School property in 2021 for $3 million, $2.5 million of which was funded through the state bond commission.
Cantor said the town will seek federal and state funding for the Elmwood Community and Cultural Center project.
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