A 400-year anniversary is cause for celebration, and the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation was gearing up for a big year commemorating the first landing of the English in the New World; even the Queen was coming for a visit.

The design problem however, was a complex puzzle. The program called for replacement of the restroom facilities, removal of an old pump station and building to make room for a new one, new ship maintenance facilities, concession facilities, and a sheltered area for group gatherings screened from the interpretative areas. All of this had to be accomplished on a restricted site that already contained all of those functions and that couldn’t be closed down for construction. Because the Queen of England was also scheduled to attend the anniversary festivities, ensuring that we were on schedule was of the highest priority.

When designing support facilities amongst living history replicas, it’s important to fade into the background as much as possible to respect the historic experience of the visitor. The canopy area of the compound is set behind a well-landscaped screen wall, and the timbers and fabric of the canopies pay homage to the replica ships nearby. The materials and details of the restroom building keep to historic tastes without trying to pass as a replica building. The combination of elements effectively screens the ship maintenance shop and storage yard from the public view. GuernseyTingle was honored to be recognized by Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) with an Award of Excellence.

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