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After review of the current log cabin usage and the needs of the community, the Chardon Heritage Committee hired Penttila Architects to create a conceptual design for a replacement building.
The structure will include a sugarhouse that will educate visitors and tourists about how maple syrup is made, and eliminate the yearly chore of erecting a temporary sugarhouse for the Geauga County Maple Festival. |
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Existing Log Cabin
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The existing log cabin consists of one large meeting room and one unisex restroom. Entrance doors are on the east side of the building, facing East Park Street, on each end of the building. The building includes a very nice operational stone fireplace and chimney.
The building is constructed with contemporary stud walls, and faced with a fake log cabin veneer. The log cabin was built on a concrete slab, which acts as the floor.
The total floor space area of the log cabin equals 939 sq. ft.
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Approved Conceptual Design
( 4 Articles )
After seven months of requirements and design review, the Heritage Committee approved the Conceptual Design. Hank Penttila, from Penttila Architects, presented his latest concept, which was very well received.
Previously, Hank had presented a 4,000+ sq. ft. concept, which the Heritage Committee felt was too overwhelming. Although it met all the required features of the building, we believed it was too large for Chardon Square. His new concept was compressed to 2,633 sq. ft., and still accomplished all the objectives of the committee.
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Preliminary Design
( 6 Articles )
Following a presentation to Chardon City Council in May, 2007, Council decided to request more public feedback. They placed an advisory issue on the November ballot to create a more controlled method of requesting this feedback.
The ballot issue was a generic "non-design" advisory vote. The results prompted City Council to proceed with plans to replace the more than 40-year-old log cabin with a larger building.
The Ad-hoc Committee was reformed to continue with the preliminary design phase of the project, and to start marketing and fundraising efforts.
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Model
( 6 Articles )
On August 14, 2008, Hank Penttila presented the model of the proposed Heritage House to the Chardon Heritage Committee. The model is a small scale replica of the proposed design. It allows everyone the opportunity to see the building before it is actually built, and to experience how someone may use the building. Trees are included in the model to help show how the building will fit within the park and surrounding trees.
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Model in the Park
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Pictures speak a thousand words, so we superimposed photos of the model onto photos of the park. The dimensions of the model are sized appropriately, so that you can see how the Heritage House will look in the park. Each set of pictures includes the existing log cabin, compared to the proposed Heritage House. Please notice the trees or other related structures to compare the two buildings. Some of the photos have slightly different angles, but the trees will help you to see the difference in the two buildings.
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Latest Design
( 4 Articles )
More Traditional Design
The Chardon Heritage Committee has gathered feedback on various aspects of the proposed design. Most of the comments centered around the need for a more traditional design and the desire for less “contemporary look”. Below is a listing of common issues with our previous design:
- The diamond-shaped large meeting room (pointing west) was too contemporary.
- The design did not incorporate design aspects commonly seen around the square.
- The exterior timber could become an maintenance issue.
- The timber frame was not a “functional” timber framed structure, but instead a combination of individual timber frames connected with more contemporary methods (providing the appearance of a timber framed structure).
- The footprint of the building was too large.
We reviewed all the feedback, reviewed other design ideas, and have redesigned the building to incorporate all but one comment … the size. The majority of the respondents and our committee agree that the size increase is acceptable to achieve the proposed functionality.
Design Changes
The following design changes have been made:
- The floor plan has been revised to incorporate one solid timber frame, which will provide the structural support for the building. The walls will only enclose the structure.
- The exterior timber frame has been replaced with more traditional encased columns which can be seen in most of the timber-framed buildings around and near the square. Most of the interior timber frame will be exposed.
- The design (roof pitch, eaves, siding) is a more traditional design (Federalist) which can be seen around Geauga county.
- The large meeting room is a rectangular room with a bay window projection.
- The rolling steel door above the exterior concession stand has been replaced with a traditional arch trimmed door.
- The evaporator room was slightly moved to allow more storage near the large meeting room.
- Meeting room capacity has been increased from 75 (from 72), as a result of the floor plan changes required by the timber frame.
- Exterior will be stone, with 8” clapboard cement-board siding and raised-seam steel roof. We plan to use “shades of sand” for exterior walls and woodwork and a bronze-colored roof.
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Design