Vista Wellness: An Educational Community Center for the ...



4000310515centerFall 20183300095000Fall 2018420003263900880008851265Kimberly Kehr, Matthew Syke, Thomas SzaboSustainabiliy Capstone450000Kimberly Kehr, Matthew Syke, Thomas SzaboSustainabiliy Capstone420003263900175001760220Vista Wellness: An Educational Community Center for the Glenview PreservePaul Smith’s College450000Vista Wellness: An Educational Community Center for the Glenview PreservePaul Smith’s CollegeTable of ContentsAbstract ……………………………………………………………………….………………… 2 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….. 3 Research Problem/Significance ………………………………………………………………... 5History …………………………………………………………………………………………... 6Design Standards ……………………………………………………………………..……….. 10Methods ………………………………………………………………………………………... 14Findings/Recommendations ………………………………………………………………….. 20Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………………… 22AbstractThe Glenview Preserve is home to a beautiful open vista of the High Peaks. This land was recently purchased by the Adirondack Land Trust and is looking for ways to sustainably manage the property by utilizing Paul Smith’s College capstone students for recommendations. One viable opportunity the ALT can incorporate, is the addition of a sustainable forum and conference center. With a community-oriented mind, Vista Wellness will provide a multitude of spaces for businesses and individuals to retreat while partaking in recreational activities. Vista Wellness is designed to be low impact with features such as a living roof and LEED certification. Using a promotional commercial and an intricate model, using state of the art construction supplies, we are able to convey the need for this addition to the Glenview property.IntroductionThe Adirondacks are world renowned for their beauty. The towering stature of Whiteface Mountain and the surrounding peaks are some of the highest in New York State. All year round, residents and visitors alike gaze at the high peaks in awe. More adventurous explorers climb to the tops of these mountains to be rewarded with breathtaking views. For the people who don’t wish to climb mountains or explore above the treetops, small glimpses of beauty can be seen along roadways or at scenic vistas. According to , “A vista is a scene, view, or panorama. It is what you stop to see when you climb to the top of a mountain or pull off the road at the ‘scenic view’ or ‘rest stop.’”One such vista is easily seen in Harrietstown, NY. Just minutes away from the village of Saranac Lake, the Glenview vista offers a panorama of the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. This swatch of land was acquired by the Adirondack Land Trust (ALT), and they have been working with the original land owner to manage the land in a sustainable, realistic way. We recognize that there is immense value at the Glenview vista, both intrinsic and monetary. With that in mind, our aim is to propose a land use project that increases monetary value while keeping the beauty of the Glenview vista intact. One way to maintain the regional aesthetic was to incorporate a ‘cure cottage’ style within the architecture. This architecture is reflective of the history of tuberculosis (TB) in the region. “Edward Livingston Trudeau's Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium” in Saranac Lake, NY was an internationally known tuberculous curing hotspot (Daniel, 2006, p. 5). He believed that along with rest, diet, and exercise, the “open-air treatment” would cure anyone of the terrible ailment (Daniel, 2006, p. 5). We pulled a lot of influence off of this idea as we synthesized the construction of the conference/community center. Coupled with the idea that beautiful, natural spaces, can actually help people with anxiety, reduce pain, and can assist in the healing process (Schweitzer et al, 2004, p. S76). The Wellness Vista offers the beauty, environment, and natural calming properties of the view while providing an opportunity for monetary gain. We aim to get the highest value possible from the property by incorporating many of the goals into our small development. This development would enhance visitor experience and increase the value while meeting goals of both the ALT and the land owner. Although the ALT aims to impact the land as little as possible, we think that by incorporating a viewing platform and a small cure cottage themed visitor center it will maximize value. The goals that we hope to fulfil with this project are: create pollinator habitat, education of tuberculosis history, enhance visitor experience, and to provide a community center that is self-sustaining.The production of a trail system and parking lot would have negative impacts on the view from the road. Therefore, the structure will be moved down the hill, out of sight from the road. By incorporating a community center into this property, it will make the most of the view, educational opportunities, and a well-placed parking lot. The ALT plans to revitalize the pastures and incorporate an accessibility measure to make the center that much more of an attraction to visitors. One such measure would be a handicap assessable ramp to an elevated viewing platform. This platform would enable a larger panoramic view than can be seen from the roads or fields. To further incorporate additional opportunities for the ALT to generate revenue, the addition of a conference room, kitchen, and wood fired spa are all available. These additions to the center provide marketable amenities to attract people to rent out this space for private use. With smart sustainable development, the ALT could boost its revenue as well as educate the public about cultural historical practices and offer services to a wider market.Research Problem/SignificanceThe ALT has acquired a plot of land with immense value and has the possibility to positively impact the lives of visitors. Our research question was how we meet the goals of the ALT while making the property profitable. Currently, the property has two overgrown fields but is otherwise forested, which we don’t have any plans of drastically changing. The scenic vista can be easily viewed from the road but could be exemplified with the addition of a viewing platform and visitor center. This semi-secluded facility will minimize noise pollution from the road and create an awe-inspiring experience that will only add to the value of the property.Our proposed project will take the goals of restoring agricultural land, providing pollinator habitat, minimizing development of the land, educating the public, and maintaining maple sap extraction a step further by creating this multi-use multi-purpose facility. Our facility will be unique because it is a combination of an educational center, community center, and conference center. This diversified use will reach multiple demographics to ensure the proposed building gets use and provides the greatest possible experience of the Glenview Preserve. The scenic vista that is observed from this property is so valuable not only for its beauty, but because of accessibility. Further developing this land with the addition of an access road would allow for more formal access to the agricultural fields, maple trees, the visitor center, and proposed trail networks. This proposed facility is important to people with restricted mobility because it offers the authentic experience that only the Adirondack high peaks can provide while keeping accessibility in mind.HistoryFor the architecture of the building design, we were incorporating a cure cottage feel to the rustic atmosphere of Adirondack buildings. To do so, we had to learn more about the history of the region and the disease.Tuberculosis has been known by many names from ‘Consumption’ from the Greek pktkinein, which means to waste away, to the “White Death” because of the weakness and pallor of its victims. Today, scientists call it Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or T.B. (Meyer, 1991, p.1). Lack of fresh air was thought to cause to the disease, and a “considerable body of medical opinion was convinced that the aroma of pine or spruce trees actually provided therapeutic benefit.” (Meyer, 1991, p.1). This ideal originally stemmed from the Native American culture and when the Europeans first settled in the New World. It was known as ‘Good Medicine’ and treatment for disease and illness could be found?in light, soil, water, and wind.?(Crawford, 2015, p.28) This ‘cure’ was lost while the Europeans colonized the Americas and brought western medicine along with a rejection of wilderness. Later in history,?scientists started to change ideals about wilderness and?doctors “re-discovered” the outdoor cure?(Crawford, 2015, p.30).The Adirondacks were the easiest choice for New York City residents to escape the crowded, industrialized city and the fresh air enticed the sick. Therefore, Saranac Lake became a go-to site for treatment. Because of its long history, this disease is one of the deadliest microbial pathogens in the world (Daniel, 2006, p. 1). But this disease was the main focus for Edward Livingston Trudeau, who came to the area when he was afflicted by the illness in 1873. He lived in the time before T.B. was treated with chemotherapy, as it is today, and wholeheartedly believed in the “open-air treatment”. When he came to the Adirondacks, he stayed at Paul Smith’s Hotel, now known as Paul Smith’s College. During his stay, “…his?fever and cough gradually subsided, but upon his return to New York the illness recurred and he was obliged to return to Paul Smith’s for the bitter winter”?(Meyer, 1991,?p. 2). His stays provided temporary relief to his illness and with some financial aid, Trudeau purchased 10 acres of land to house other patients. The first building was called “Little Red” which was constructed in 1884. This structure can still be seen -241302186305today in Saranac Lake. -241302186305Saranac Lake has no shortage of trees and spectacular vistas, so it provided the perfect backdrop for the sanitariums of the time to develop. Worldwide, the first sanatorium was in Gobersdorf, Germany in 1859 by Herman Brehmer. It was here that he facilitated a “regimen of rest, a rich diet, and carefully supervised exercise” (Daniel, 2006, p. 4). The first sanatorium in North America followed soon after in North Carolina by Joseph Gleitsman and not far behind came “Edward Livingston Trudeau's Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium” in Saranac Lake, NY (Daniel, 2006, p. 5). Here, rest, diet, and exercise constituted what was called the “open-air treatment” (Daniel, 2006, p. 5). People all over the world came to the area in search of cures?and?“By 1922 the cottage tuberculosis industry in the Saranac Lake area was at its peak. More than 1,600 new patients came to the village that year, and all hotels and boarding houses were overcrowded.”?(Meyer, 1991, p.3). This overcrowding at the institute caused the houses in the region to adapt and homeowners began to construct cure porches of their own. Independent citizens hosted people afflicted with T.B. to earn extra money and the face of Saranac Lake began to change. Today, many of the homes in Saranac Lake have what some call a ‘3-season porch’. These porches allowed patients to stay exposed to clean air while staying in bed, which was imperative to the fresh air cure. Some of the weakest patients and had to stay in bed for most of the day and even at night. There are several accounts of patients staying outside during the winter weather, when the temperature could get as low as -40oF. (Crawford, 2015, p.30)When residents weren’t curing on the porch, there were other recreational activities on the sanatorium premises. There were activities ranging from sledding to pool and many residents at the time reported pleasurable memories. The sanitarium remained open until chemotherapy and more modern?surgical and pharmacological?medicine developed in the 1950’s?(Crawford, 2015, p.30). The buildings, research, and legacy live on as the Trudeau Institute. According to the website, their mission is “To safeguard human health and combat 21st century global health crises, from drug-resistant TB to emerging viruses and pandemics, by empowering specialized R&D pursuits in regional and global Translational Science Partnerships.” This does not sound too far off from what Edward Livingston Trudeau aimed to do when the sanitarium was originally founded, and his legacy lives on in a place where fresh air a beautiful view first started.The idea of a beautiful place never fully escaped the minds of those seeking refuge from illness. The Adirondacks remained attract active to people in search of a cure. In a study done by Schweitzer, a view of nature can reduce stress, lower anxiety, help reduce pain, and can assist the healing process. In hospitals, patients in windowless rooms were shown to have higher rates of anxiety and depression, and patients in windowed rooms tend to leave sooner?(Schweitzer?et al, 2004, p. S76). Although this does not prove that a beautiful view assists in curing illness, it provides strong evidence that Trudeau was on the right track with his cure and open air treatments. The Saranac Lake region horizon is beautiful and filled with mountains. Saranac Lake and the Glenview Preserve help to showcase the gorgeous views present in the Adirondacks. This region is one of the few places you can enjoy yourself and do nothing but look at the landscape. Today tuberculosis can be treated with modern medicine and cure cottages are a thing of the past. Yet, the influence of the disease is still easily seen. Design StandardsThe topography of the Glenview Preserve is ideal for concealing a visitor center because of the gradual slope down from the State Route 86 to the bog. The Bloomingdale Bog is the third largest bog in New York State with the backdrop of the High Peaks Wilderness Area, the largest forest preserve in New York. Due to the topography of this location, there is a respectable view and great range of ecosystems on the property. To ensure that the facility still has a panoramic view, a lookout platform will be installed above tree height. Studies have shown that a platform will provide a better view from below the road and provide less intrusion on wildlife present near the facility (Higham, Lusseau & Hendry, 2008). This unique landscape provides a rare opportunity to have a facility with minimal impacts on visual aesthetics while tremendously enhancing visitor experience.The facility will be environmentally friendly due to its qualification for LEED certification. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a third-party consulting system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. There are four different levels to LEED certification, Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each level of certification has different standards that need to be met to be awarded the certification and to become LEED certified, the building must have features related to efficiencies and best practices that combine to achieve a minimum rating of 40 points (LEED USGBC, n.d.). Overlook Hall, a residence hall on Paul Smith’s College campus is one example of a Silver LEED certified building. Some strategies for development can be found in Green Buildings and LEED Core Concepts, 2nd Edition. It states that we should aim to minimize hardscape, use native landscaping, prevent light pollution, preserve open and sensitive areas, and protect and restore habitat. These are done by the inclusion of storm water runoff plans, permeable surfaces, native plants and green spaces, and pollinator habitat. Storm water collection methods and retention ponds will mitigate the effects of storm water runoff from the development to the Bloomingdale Bog. These storm water methods include using rain barrels and storm water retention ponds. Rain barrels can be found at Home Depot ranging in price from $66.66 to $846.97. The range is price is a factor of both capacity and aesthetics. The more disguised rain barrels can be more expensive than just blue barrels. Additionally, the building will have a living roof consisting of native mosses, grasses and small shrubs. By implementing a green roof, this building will blend in with the surrounding landscapes when viewed from a distance and help mitigate erosion from surface runoff. To address the problems of runoff from the parking lot and access road we hope to implement permeable pavement. We hope to limit the use of impermeable surfaces to be minimal, efficient, and effective so that the smallest amount of landscape will be disturbed. The incorporation of green spaces will be home to edible landscapes consisting of vegetation native to the region. The use of these plants is ideal for the environment and makes the most out of the disturbed space while maximizing the use of water for irrigation. Not only are these green spaces efficient uses of natural resources but can also be used as educational tools for promoting environmentally friendly sustainable practices.To help address the loss of pollinator species from the development of the facility and surrounding infrastructure, there will be multiple pollinator gardens. These gardens will be put in place to ensure there is adequate pollinator habitat in accordance with the New York State Pollinator Plan. The pollinator habitats will span from the north side of the parking lot to the side of the building then wrap around the western edge of the lot. Such a large area was chosen because of the disruption from the building as well as aesthetic factors in construction. The species to be planted in the proposed area are: Black Eyed Susan; Daisies; Sunflowers; and Daylilies. This flora will attract species from the Taxas Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera. The Paul Smith’s College VIC is already producing pollinator packets filled with native plant species seeds. With their assistance, the packets could be available to visitors at Vista Wellness. This pollinator habitat is in accordance with two of the four priority areas set by the Pollinator Task Force. The priority areas are “Habitat enhancement efforts to protect and revive populations of all pollinators” and “Development of an outreach and education program to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and engage the public as active participants in reversing pollinator decline.” (Department of Environmental Protection, 1)996722160716000Although the Adirondack Land Trust already had plans to implement a trail system, we proposed another route. Drawing influence and data from a capstone done by Valerie Hoffman in 2017, trails were made and added to the Vista Wellness design. The map below shows the proposed trail system as well as the proposed pollinator habitat.The map represents some ADA accessible trails proposed by Hoffman with an additional loop on the right half of the map. This portion is not ADA accessible and follows the logging trails already in the wooded area of the Glenview Preserve. These trails could be built by Paul Smith’s College students as part of a sustainability class, or an outdoor education class that is focusing on trail management and construction. MethodsAfter identifying the diminishing architectural culture of cure cottages in the Saranac Lake region, we decided to further research the history that tuberculosis had on the local community. During our preliminary research, we decided to look for articles based on key words such as: ‘cure cottage’, ‘wellness’, ‘Adirondack’, ‘Tuberculosis’, and ‘Trudeau Institute’. These searches yielded many results with a wide range of information.The most common topic was the use of the cold, clean air and wilderness to help the patients cure while maintaining a certain level of relaxation. One of our group members had the opportunity to take a tour of the Sanatorium in Saranac Lake, New York. This tour yielded a bounty of knowledge both historically and architecturally. The tour informed about building usage and functionality. Ranging from a hospital like facility to game rooms and staff housing, the buildings all shared a desire to help patients treat tuberculosis. This tour allowed for a more accurate conception of what we needed to express in the development of our cure cottage styled visitor center and provided a more visible influence on the center’s fa?ade. To present our ideas in a tangible way and to provide greater interpretation of the concepts our visitor center will have, we decided to build a 3D model. This model will not be to scale, but it will show highlighted features. These features enable the visitor center to provide a more immersive experience with nature and the Glenview Preserve. This model will be made from rustic themed 3D building material, popsicle sticks, glue, paint, and other small accessories. These are being used to highlight the architectural style of cure cottages and the rustic, Adirondack theme.With the research we performed we had a clear idea of what the model needed to look like but had to try several variations of building styles to see which was the most accurate of a cure cottage design. While keeping aesthetics and accessibility in mind we started to assemble our model to look like Figure 3 and Figure 4. This preliminary construction is the culmination of our interpretation of the Adirondack cure cottage. Once we started to glue parts of the model together and the final structure started to appear more clearly. Getting the structure of the building put together allowed us to better envision how to highlight the unique features that will make this facility more than just another interpretive center in the woods.3657165219773500-96520224599500Once the main structure was built using the Lincoln Logs, we used popsicle sticks and hot glue to assemble railings, stairs, and ramps. These additions helped to give the model a realistic look that is relatable to modern architecture. Along with the additions of the ramps for increased accessibility we made windows and a porch to resemble the style of cure cottages. These windows are prevalent and show how much cure cottages relied on the viewing of the outdoors as part of the tuberculosis cure. 3230880254000To further provide a visualization of our proposed center, we created an informational advertisement that depicts the important topics of Vista Wellness. This 240030000advertisement is filmed in the woods of the local area and on site to depict the unrivaled beauty of the Adirondack wilderness. This film will show the location of our proposed site and demonstrate how well the center will integrate with the natural landscape. Although the video is going to be portrayed, in a more humorous way than found in most commercials, it helps bring our concepts into reality. The community center is not a tangible place that we can visit, so some creative liberties were taken to ensure the most appropriate features were highlighted. For example, the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center was used to depict the viewing platform that would be in our proposed location. This video would potentially influence investors, community members, and business people to rent the facility. In addition to video components, the narration was provided by Dr. Craig Milewski. A script was written, and he graciously agreed to participate in our advertisement. His voice in particular was chosen because he has a smooth cadence and calming tone. The following passage is the script from the video:HistoryBeautyMountainsThe AdirondacksAt more than 6 million acres, the Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the United States. This wondrous space features, mountains, lakes, and spanning vistas in Northern New York.Is there a more relaxing, scenic place to spend a business retreat?Physician, Edward Livingston Trudeau, believed in the curative power of fresh mountain air and you can too. Our unique approach at the Vista Wellness Conference and Community Center combines the history of Saranac Lake and the rejuvenating effects of nature.Meet professionals, Host Events, and More in our main seating area, capable of hosting more than 500 people.Our sustainable, LEED certified facilities are sure to meet all of your business and personal needs. With environmentally friendly business practices and sustainable infrastructure, we can help keep the cost of renting affordable for you while keeping your investors happy.At Vista Wellness you can take full advantage of our year-round facilities:Refreshing SaunaFamily Friendly Picnic AreasCozy FireplaceScenic TrailsQuiet GardensSpacious Main Conference RoomHistorically Influenced SignageGorgeous Deck and Viewing PlatformThe Deck and Viewing platform are open to the public and with the help of Paul Smith’s College and The Saranac Laboratory Museum, there is an interpretive guide to help you admire the history as well as the view. Spaces are available to rent year-round.We welcome you to Vista Wellness.Some creative liberties were taken in the recording to ease the flow. We thank Dr. Milewski and everyone feature in the video for their participation in our capstone project. The project took place at Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretative Center, and the Glenview Preserve. Video editing was done on Adobe Premiere Pro with videos that we recoded, and music over laid to feel more like a promotional video. This video is very low budget and has great potential. With the help of a production crew and financial backers, there could be a more polished look and feel to a real promotional video.In order to graphically visualize the view that is available from the Glenview Preserve, a viewshed was created using ArcGIS. A viewshed is a spatial analysis of the area that can be seen from a particular location. It analyzes topographic information to highlight what a view would look like. First, digital elevation models (DEMs) were downloaded from CUGIR (Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository). Then forty-two DEMs were stitched together into a single raster using the Mosaic to New Raster tool in ArcMap. Next, a new shapefile was created and the Vista Wellness location was digitized. Using this as the input location and the new DEM mosaic, the viewshed tool was run in order to achieve the desired result. An Esri basemap was added for the background, and the hillshade tool was run using the DEM mosaic as the input raster. The hillshade was overlaid with the basemap in order to give it a 3D look, which was important to do in order to visualize the views on the viewing platform as part of the demonstration signage. This is seen on the following page.Other aspects of the conference center were taken from previous capstone projects. These include the ADA accessible trails and pollinator habitats. These were chosen to make the center more sustainable and accessible for everyone enjoying them. Another map was compiled to demonstrate the trails and pollinator habitat. This was made by overlaying Valerie Hoffman’s ADA accessible trail design and adding a few extra details. Data was collected from the NYS GIS Clearinghouse and CUGIR.01302385The interpretive guide and signage were both ideas from another capstone group this semester. These aspects were chosen to increase public involvement with Vista Wellness. We have incorporated these ideas to form a more rounded, complete model that meets the guidelines of both the Adirondack Land Trust and the property owners.Findings/RecommendationsThe in-depth research that we conducted has shown that the Vista Wellness facility will be beneficial to the community, the environment, and potential visitors. Through our inclusive practice of blending community, business, and outdoor recreation, the ALT will provide a sustainable way to further the visitor experience of the Glenview Preserve. The architectural design of the facility will be themed as rustic and styled after a cure cottage to help preserve the history of tuberculosis and fit the aesthetics of the community. We have a multi-step process for construction to ensure an ecologically sound development of the property. Before construction, we recommend gauging interest with potential stakeholders and opening a route for community funding. This will assess interest and ensure that the project does not fail. One option to raise funds would be to offer the naming rights of the building to the highest monetary contributor. This could boost donations and create a sense of pride within the community. During construction, we need to ensure a balance of sustainable development and ecological preservation of the surrounding property and vista. This is vital to stay in line with the ALT goals. Proper clean-up of the site during construction and limiting erosion are both vital in limiting habitat degradation as well as minimizing disturbance of wildlife. After construction, we plan to boost community interest using marketing techniques like local advertisements in businesses and commercials. Along with commercials, there will be a grand opening event for local entities and individuals to show support. If these recommendations are followed the center will provide an enhanced visitor experience through the utilization of community ties and sense of place with local business and outdoor recreation. This enhanced experience will include the addition of the viewing platform to provide a new angle for the famed vista, an enriched pollinator habitat for interaction with one of nature's most vital groups, and a handicapped accessible experience of the Adirondacks. This space, much like the current VIC, will provide educational opportunities for Paul Smith’s students and other members of the community. We have faith that this cure cottage style building will excite the community and provide a profitable aspect to an already valuable property. Thank you very much for your consideration of our proposed site plan. Bibliography Admin. (2011, June 11). Historic Tour of Saranac Lake Cure Sites. Retrieved November 28, 2018, from Crawford, C. (2015). Spirit, breath, and air: Climatic cure in the new world.?The Taproot,?24(1) Retrieved from , L. (1917). THE WINTER CURE AT TRUDEAU. AJN, American Journal Of Nursing, 18(1), 12-20.Environmental Conservation, Department of. “New York State Pollinator Plan - Dec..”?New York State Pollinator Protection Plan, Agriculture and Markets, 24 July 2016, dec.docs/administration_pdf/nyspollinatorplan.pdf.Higham, J., Lusseau, D., & Hendry, W. (2008). Wildlife Viewing: The Significance of the Viewing Platforms. Journal Of Ecotourism, 7(2&3), 132. doi: 10.2167/joe0227.0Meyer, J. (1991). Tuberculosis, the adirondacks, and coming of age for thoracic surgery. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery, 52(4), 881-885.Schweitzer, M., Gilpin, L., & Frampton, S. (2004). Healing Spaces: Elements of Environmental Design That Make an Impact on Health.?Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine,?10, S-71-S-83. Retrieved from?, M. (1909). THE ADIRONDACK COTTAGE SANITARIUM AT TRUDEAU, N. Y. AJN, American Journal Of Nursing, 9(6), 407-41Thomas M. Daniel,?The?history of tuberculosis, Respiratory Medicine, Volume 100, Issue 11, 2006, Pages 1862-1870 . (2011).?Green building and LEED core concepts guide?(2nd ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Green Building Council.Vista - Dictionary Definition. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2018, from LEED | USGBC. Retrieved from ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download