AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY B. THOMAS GOLISANO HOPE LODGE HOSPITALITY HOUSE
AIA Rochester Design Excellence Awards
HOPE LODGE is a very special facility that addresses the needs of those travelling far from home to receive time-intensive medical treatment at local hospitals. In a nurturing environment, the patient and their caregiver are provided with lodging in comfortable guest rooms at low or no cost. Common social spaces are provided and are served by supportive staff and volunteers, allowing guests to focus on their recovery.
The project began with a vacant, yet historically significant, dormitory located on the hilltop campus of a private divinity school. The structure was part of a landmark complex of buildings designed by James Gamble Rogers in 1932. The transformation of the 28,000 square foot historic structure into a modern residential retreat required a complete gut of the interior, including all plaster surfaces which were found to contain asbestos.
The design involved a major plan intervention, replacing the former double-loaded corridor and associated cellular plan with a free flowing configuration linking featured common spaces with a light-filled, outboard circulation zone. Major spaces were oriented to the commanding views of the Bristol Hills to the south.
Thirty guest rooms of modest size - all with private baths – were configured on multiple levels including former attic space. The irregular constraints posed by the building envelope ensured that each suite would have a unique character. Low floor to floor heights posed a practical challenge to the insertion of all new mechanical systems.
In addition to the residential use, 8,000 square feet of space were developed as regional administrative offices for the American Cancer Society. The design scope included all interior finishes and furnishings. Selections were made which clearly stated the modernity of the design while being in harmony with the historic context. The collegiate gothic architecture of the exterior was fully restored including slate roof replacement and new energy conserving steel sash windows which maintained the appearance of the originals.
The resulting design provides privacy, retreat and comfort for those enduring the stress of life-threatening and debilitating illness. The spaces within provide a continuity of character that supports a sense of community and healing.
-Bergmann Associates, Inc.
