The energy savings comes from designing buildings that work with and utilize the local micro climate. Black Butte Ranch, the 1,800 acre Central Oregon destination resort community located near Sisters has announced the approval of an $11.5 million Lodge Area redevelopment plan.
The improvements will include a new Lodge swimming pool (80 percent larger than the existing pool), an outdoor hot tub, new bistro and retail area with outdoor dining and poolside service, locker rooms, fitness facility, recreation center and playground. The plan also calls for improvements to parking and landscaping. Construction is set to begin next September, with a completion targeted for June 2015. Based on the proposal and initial estimates, homeowners will pay a maximum assessment of $5,000 per lot, and Black Butte plans to borrow up to $5.5 million. “I’m really proud of my neighbors, that they’ve stepped up to fund this project, and that we are sustaining the unique properties of Black Butte into the future,” said Mark Pilkenton, a homeowner and chairman of the Black Butte Ranch Board of Directors.
The development team includes THA Architecture, Walker Macy Landscape Architecture, Kirby Nagelhout Construction, Ranch management and several homeowners. The magnificent site sits between the original modernist Ranch buildings from the early 1970s: the award winning Country House Condominiums and the main Lodge. The new design is inspired by both the barn-like simplicity of the Country House Condominiums and the abstract landform roof lines of the Lodge, while evolving the Ranch’s building tradition into a progressive vision for the future. “The final site plan provides a visitor experience that reinforces the Central Oregon landscape and the Ranch’s reputation as a venerable Central Oregon resort,” said Thomas Hacker, Founding Principal of THA Architecture.
The site design, developed with Walker Macy, continues the classic Black Butte Ranch arrival sequence: sweeping movement traveling through the site and unfolding views of the Cascade Mountains. The new buildings are arranged along an arcing pathway connecting a renovated parking area to the Lodge with each new building having its entry on this path. The openings of the architecture become apertures for viewing the Central Oregon landscape, including a soon-to-be classic Ranch view of the new swimming pool on axis with nearby Mt. Washington. “The value proposition of the lodge area redevelopment is very strong, and the extremely positive support from homeowners is indicative of the resort’s long-term ability to drive memorable guest and owner experiences,” said Scott Huntsman, president and CEO of Black Butte Ranch.
Black Butte Ranch Lodge Area Redevelopment: Swimming Pool and Pool House, Bistro, and Rec Barn15,000 square foot estimated completion 2015
According to THA Architecture Becca Cavell, Principal in Charge and Corey Martin, Principal Designer, the new Lodge Area Redevelopment replaces the well-worn existing pool facility and will revive the “heart of the Ranch.” The magnificent site sits between the original modernist Ranch buildings from the early 1970s: the award winning Country House Condominiums and the Lodge.
The new design is inspired by both the barn-like simplicity of the Country House Condominiums and the abstracted landform roof lines of the Lodge, while evolving the Ranch’s building tradition into a progressive vision for the future and reinforcing its reputation as a venerable Central Oregon resort.The site design, developed with Walker Macy Landscape Architects, continues the classic Black Butte Ranch arrival sequence: sweeping movement traveling through the site and unfolding views of the Cascade Mountains. The new buildings are arranged along an arcing pathway connecting a renovated parking area to the Lodge with each new building having its entry on this path. The openings of the architecture become apertures for viewing the Central Oregon landscape, including a soon-to-be classic Ranch view of the new swimming pool on axis with nearby Mt. Washington.
Sustainable Strategies
The focus is on creating regional architecture with a connection to the outdoors for a beautiful visitor experience—rather than performance metrics. The energy savings really comes from designing buildings that work with and utilize the local micro climate.
• Landscaping with native plants for drought tolerance, habitat creation, and celebration of place
• Improved riparian habitat at lake edge
• Shielded light fixtures to preserve “dark skies” and minimize light pollution
• Encouraging bicycle use and walking through connectivity with existing Ranch trails and convenient bicycle parking
• Building with regional materials that reduce transportation impacts, boost local economy, and express northwest regional architecture
• Design with passive solar energy strategies for window locations and roof overhangs — block summer to aid in summer cooling, welcome winter sun to assist winter heating
• Harvest daylight to reduce electric lighting loads and use natural light for beautiful interiors connected to the outdoors
• Utilize massive materials in interiors such as concrete floors and walls to hold heat to assist in keeping interior temperatures naturally stable.
• Use comfortable, in-floor radiant heating for Pool House and Bistro, powered by geothermal heat pump• Natural ventilation for cooling and connection to outdoors
• High quality indoor environments with healthy indoor air quality and exceptional views.
THA Architecture, founded in 1983 by Thomas Hacker, is recognized for the design of public buildings and urban spaces. Libraries, university buildings, museums, theaters and urban design have formed the core of the work. The firm has received national, regional and local design awards, has won three national design competitions and has been published internationally in five languages. THA was recently awarded the 2013 Firm of the Year by the American Institute of Architects for the Northwest and Pacific Region
