PROJECT Baltimore Jewelry Center
LOCATION Baltimore, Maryland, US
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 7/30/2015
ARCHITECT Alexander Design Studio
ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT
OWNER/CLIENT Baltimore Jewelry Center
CONTRACTOR / CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Constantine Commercial Construction, Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHER Mitch Allen
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Charles Alexander, AIA, LEED BD+C; Eric Lewis, AIA, LEED BD+C; Camila Ramirez, LEED AP
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The Baltimore Jewelry Center (BJC) is a not-for-profit communal fabrication and educational space for teaching the technical and artistic foundation of jewelry design as well as to provide space for local artisans to produce their own work. Originally housed in a mill complex, BJC was short of the space and infrastructure needed to operate effectively as well as meet modern codes for safety around volatile elements. With cost a major concern for the project, potential spaces were limited to smaller, less expensive options. In an emerging arts district, an old movie theater/car dealership/check processing facility became the site of choice. Buried in the center of what was originally the theater’s inner shell, the space was to be accessed by a long shared corridor and core that lay between the inner and outer walls. As part of the design conceptualization, the interstitial zone on the opposite side originally intended as service corridor was added to create a separate private access to the space. This allowed for natural light into a gallery/office zone and a more identifiable entry. Equally important, the added peripheral access allowed safe delivery and storage of combustible tanks as well as access to fresh air to make up for the high ventilation demands of the fabrication areas. The plan’s organization is very simple but highly effective relative to the demands of the space. Divided primarily into technical fabrication areas and open space, the plan allows for maximum visibility between the custom work benches and the various processes used in jewelry making. A primary circulation path along an internal façade connects the various zones. The light filled peripheral zoned provides a dramatic entry gallery with custom display areas mounted to the exposed block of the original theater shell. The office is located at the end of the gallery adjacent to the portal into the main spaces allowing for visibility and control of access. The heart of the space is the open classroom/work area with custom designed benches allowing 36 workspaces. An additional 20 benches in a semi-private area are available for rental by professional artisans. Made from reclaimed wood, each space has individual power and lighting. A large sliding door will divide the classroom space for greater flexibility of usage. The soldering area presented a particular challenge relative to ventilation. Because of the toxins in the off-gassing, a large volume of conditioned air was required to replace the vented air. Small individual air scrubbers were found in Europe that achieved the results and reduced installation and operational costs. One of the more acoustically challenging spaces is the cold forming room. The noise generated by the continuous hammering was a particular concern in this multi-tenant building. A floating ceiling and wall system, as well as an independent HVAC system, allow for complete isolation while sound glass and an acoustic door allow visibility from the rest of the space.
MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1 1 Baltimore Jewelry Center_high res, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 2 2 Baltimore Jewelry Center_high res int2, Entry Corridor, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 3 3 Baltimore Jewelry Center_high res int2, Classroom, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 4 4 Baltimore Jewelry Center, Gallery, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 5 5 Baltimore Jewelry Center, Forming Room, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 6 6 Baltimore Jewelry Center, Casting Area, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 7 7 Baltimore Jewelry Center, Soldering Area, Photographer: Mitch Allen
IMAGE 8 8 Baltimore Jewelry Center, View from Office into Entry Corridor, Photographer: Mitch Allen
Baltimore Jewelry Center
Category
State > AIA Maryland > Interior Architecture (AIA Maryland)
Share