In 2017 we undertook, as part of team led by Heritage Directions, LLC, a comprehensive assessment and plans for redevelopment of the historic WPA era gym facility on the campus of the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center.
We documented the one-story facility and looked at developing alternative plans for adaptive reuse that would address reuse concepts generated by the community in dialog with the design team.
We provided an initial building code evaluation and prepared concept architectural drawings with building systems proposed by Sud Associates, P.A. This included looking at what would be required to provide functional toilet rooms and HVAC systems for the building. Robert Steffen, P.E. evaluated several areas of structural concern and proposed potential remediation. And Aiken Cost Consultants used this information provided by the design team to provide budget scenarios for the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s use in planning for future implementation.
A small portion of the building had previously been renovated to include as small kitchen and meeting room and the improvements were planned to bring the facility into full code and ADA compliance and to allow for a broad range of community uses and activities to foster cultural and tourism goals.
In a separate project and after much public input, SDS designed an outdoor garden and gathering area that is under construction and which reflects Graham County’s cultural and natural heritage.
Mathews Architecture
