All images courtesy of RDG
Proud to share that RDG Planning and Design Durham Outpatient Center – Rooftop Plaza, received a Merit Award from the ASLA Central States Chapter. Link to Website
As part of the collaborative team at RDG Planning and Design, I worked alongside an excellent group of designers and consultants.
Grateful for the collaboration and the chance to contribute to this project.
Awards:
Merit Award, Institutional Design – ASLA Central States Chapter – 2023
Merit Award, Institutional Design – ASLA Central States – 2023
Honor Award — Design (Built) – ASLA Nebraska Dakotas Chapter – 2022
Project Description:
The courtyard’s organic design, extrapolated from the cellular respiration process, posed multiple constructability challenges. The project was located on an existing roof with high-value patient space below so critical infrastructure such as roof drains could not be relocated. The curved concrete wall was constructed using CNC forms composed of over 1,400 unique parts. This concrete wall split the roof into two zones planting / hardscape, each zone was carefully planned around the existing roof drains. The properties of the concrete wall allowed for benches, counters and tables to be cantilevered limiting roof penetrations.
The client recognized this project as an opportunity to give its staff, patients and visitors new chances to enhance wellness and interact with the outdoors with an engaging, artful plaza space. Outside of the café on level three of the outpatient tower, the rooftop plaza had fallen into disrepair. The space had closed for use due to a lack of shade opportunities, uneven pedestal paving, plugged drains and the roof membrane needing replacement.
The design team collaborated with the client to envision a new rooftop courtyard space grounded both conceptually and physically to the medical practice and the wellness of its staff, patients and visitors. Mimicking the process of cellular respiration, the courtyard features an organic design blending a variety of seating types and shade structures with a planting palette that integrates native landscaping that thrives in an intensive green roof environment.
The improvements to this space enhance research-backed wellness advantages, such as stress reduction and lessened perceived discomfort, thus reducing healing times. The variety of outdoor seating options offers users the autonomy of choice in finding a space that meets their desired needs, encouraging increased usage and engagement with nature within the hospital campus.
Credit: Jamie Cahill with graphics
studio ambiguous 