Rail to River

 

 

Award:

2025 Citation Award

Category:

Restoration / Renovation

Project:

Rail to River: UrbanARCH

Firm:

UrbanARCH

 

Jury Comments:

A simple, yet elegant adaptive reuse of an often-maligned building-type. The warmth and sophistication of the wash house is a nice complement to the industrial nature of the main Farmer’s Market structure.

Appreciate the efforts in taking a forgotten asset in a distressed community and making it so much better with thoughtful design. Transparency definitely is the theme! The Wash House is also a well-designed place with the materials, skylights, concrete benches, shade for rest. Love the dusk view showing the connection of the Wash House to the Farmer’s Market. Wonderful transformation and can image all different uses. (cont’d next page)

Wonderful use of economy on a tight budget and makes for a great gathering place. Where Simple and economical meet with the right amount of design. High impact with a few simple moves. This project has meaning because of who and how many it will serve as a place for community. Taking an often-maligned building structural system, and using the same skin components to make a glowing beacon for a community is impressive.