A natural challenge: sustainable design made for a successful, beautiful park at Saluda Shoals

Parks & Recreation, Sept, 2002 by Roger Dahnert, Dan Wells

Traversing an uncommonly high number of utility right-of-ways, preserving hundreds of trees in a mature soft pine forest and skirting right-to-flood restrictions from a dam were major challenges in designing Saluda Shoals Park in Columbia, S.C. A 274-acre tract of land on the shore of the Saluda River, the park is just downstream from a dam operated by South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G), which owns the park acreage. One of the SCE&G permitting requirements involves providing recreational space along the Saluda River, a cold-water trout stream that's also a popular canoe and kayak area. To accomplish this, the utility leased the majority of the $3 million park acreage to the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission.

Supporting the corporate owner's vision, the project's purpose is to present environmental interpretation and the natural history of the area, as well as ecosystem education. It also should provide a retreat for business conferences and a place for corporate and community receptions and social events.

A Multiphase Project

In 1997, during phase one of the project, Woolpert LLP implemented a renovated boat launch, observation deck and an innovative canoe launch, which is an interior rather than exterior design. In response to quickly rising and ebbing levels of the Saluda river--which can change abruptly from seven feet to 11 feet within an hour based on power demands at the dam--a unique U-shaped docking area was designed with numerous levels to accommodate the rapidly changing water elevations. It can serve up to 30 people for canoeing/kayaking instruction.

An environmental center, launched in phase two, was the first of three buildings to be planned. Situated in close proximity to Rawls Creek ecosystem, the structure was designed by the architect to minimize impact to the topography while highlighting the real showcase--the natural habitat.

Inside, the flow and function dictated the design. First, visitors tour through a lecture/presentation auditorium for orientation. It's equipped with a roll-down projection screen, fixed lecture hall seating with writing desk arms and "smart" classroom features, such as overhead and computer projection.

The center is planned so that a group of 90, such as students, can smoothly rotate through three separate, yet connected areas. One-third of each group can break out into three separate areas--small environmental classrooms, an environmental museum/exhibition space with an aquarium for native fish, and the outdoor site and nature trails--and flow easily back to a central congregation area.

The objective of a second main building, the meeting facility, is to support the regional business and social community. Called the River Center, the facility can accommodate up to 500 people for meetings, handling multiple groups of varying sizes, as well as 250 people for a sit-down banquet. Two on-site catering spaces are available for simultaneous events.

Maintaining a Natural Balance

Situating the facilities was a vital part of maintaining the delicate balance of various ecosystems formed by the cold-water Saluda River, Rawls Creek, a warm-water runoff stream, side channels, two additional ponds that are in the planning stages and existing woodlands. Sustainable design was used to take advantage of the natural topography by placing the buildings close to the river and creek and nature trails, while minimizing damage.

First, clear-cutting was held to an absolute minimum. Tree surveys completed early in the process identified for preservation more than 200 individual trees with trunk diameters of six inches or more. One area of the site contains a mature soft pine forest, which had been logged at one time. Over the past 50 years, this area had recovered, with some of the pines reaching four feet in diameter. These areas have been preserved, with contractors taking care to circumvent designated trees in construction areas.

Working with topographical contours dictated a curved form to the meeting facility. Situated on a hill, excavation was minimized by allowing one side of the structure to hang over a slope and working the other side into the slopes using tight borrow fill.

Of particular advantage in this case, the owner had an unusually clear vision for the facility and needs of the community. This helped the designers develop a plan that flowed and related to the shape of the spaces.

In fact, compromise and consensus between the owner and the architect led to a more progressive design than generally possible, maximizing function and minimizing the footprint needed for a structure. The design incorporated creative reverse curves and upheld existing grades. The overall design of the buildings incorporated an upbeat, contemporary scheme and, at the same time, a rustic feel. Materials of masonry and wood, natural in tone and texture, were chosen for their durability, compatibility with the surroundings and warmth. Exposed steel was painted in soft tones to exude a warmer, subtler hue. Concrete masonry units placed at the base of the interior walls, reduced handprints and wear and tear, while retaining its aesthetic appearance.