WHITNEY WATER PURIFICATION FACILITY AND PARK
Hamden, CT, United States. 2005
Description +
PROGRAM: water treatment facility and public park
CLIENT: Regional Water Authority
SIZE: 140,000 sq ft
STATUS: Complete
The overall design of the park is comprised of six sectors, analogs of the six processes of water treatment in the new underground facility below. The park’s “micro to macro” reinterpretation results in the unexpected, challenging conventional material spatial configuration. For example, in a field of wild mosses which corresponds to the ozonation bubbling, there are “bubble” skylight lenses which bring light to the plant loft below. In the zone corresponding to rapid mixing and high turbulence, agitated grass mounds are penetrated by little streams. Hints of the plant below rise up in stainless steel “slices.” The administration building is formed as a stainless steel sliver rising like liquid from below. This building orients the public education entrance and is flanked by access ways on both sides.
Ecological Innovation +
2007 AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project Award
Geothermal heating and cooling (88 wells)
Has the largest green roof in Connecticut (30,0000 square feet)
Gravity-driven water treatment process avoids the energy required to pump water
Provides natural lighting for plant spaces
Credits +
architect
- Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl, Chris McVoy (design architect)
Chris McVoy (partner in charge)
Anderson Lee, Urs Vogt (associate in charge)
Arnault Biou, Annette Goderbauer (project architect)
Justin Korhammer, Linda Lee, Rong-hui Lin, Susi Sanchez, Urs Vogt (project team)
engineer
- CH2MHill
- Tighe & Bond Consulting Engineers
lighting consultant
- Renfro Design Group
code consultant
- Rolf Jensen & Assoc.
landscape architect
- Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates
site sustainability consultant
- Bioengineering Group
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Awards +
- 2007 AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project
- 2005 AIA NY Honor Award
- 2001 Van Alen Institute International Projects in Public Architecture
