UP-195.01Building Area: (sf)45,000 GSF

Cost per Square Foot: TBD

Construction CostTBD

Date of Completion:TBD

Program Summary:The Event Center is envisioned as a year-round event space for up to 250 guests in the finger Lakes Region of upstate New York.

Program Statement:Set on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, the primary design intent of the project is to create a strong connection to the lake and frame its picturesque views. The building is purposefully designed to minimize its impact on the site and to maintain a seamless integration with the surrounding landscape while providing protection from inclement weather.

The sequence of experiences takes visitors on a meandering drive through the woodlands as they approach the building’s eastern wall that appears like a ruin in the landscape. As guests pass through the entry portal, the hall slopes down toward the foyer and is washed with natural light by a skylight that extends the full length of the space. Upon arrival at the foyer, a rhythm of concrete walls initially frame and deny certain views of the lake. The foyer then opens up to a wide gallery along the western glass wall, where the view ultimately reveals the full horizon of the landscape and the lake beyond.

After passing through the entry procession it becomes apparent that the building is cut into the hill. Taller on the west side than initially perceived on the east, the rustic board-formed concrete wall retains the earth to carve out space into the hill for the pavilion and terraces.

Internal courtyards are integral components to the building’s design, acting as anchors to the spatial layout. These courtyards bracket the main reception hall, filtering natural daylight within and elevating the presence of landscape for the overall experience.

UP-195.02West façade, overlooking the lawn terrace.

The horizontality of landscape, lake, and vista is echoed by the linear massing of the building and a thin simple roof line.

UP-195.03Top: Aerial View of Cayuga Lake

Bottom left: The Finger Lakes Region and site location on Cayuga Lake

UP-195.04The site plan shows the meandering driveway through the woodlands, leading to the understated entrance to the building.

Pedestrian pathways casually flow from the parking lot to the main entrance, taking visitors through the grassy meadow.

The building was sited in such a way that the entry point is aligned with an existing hedgerow of trees. Other existing hedgerows are enhanced for the sake of buffering sound transmission and visual disturbance to the nearby residences.

The topography of the rolling meadow is marked against the long, low-height eastern wall of the building, which disguises the reading of the overall building. Just on the other side of this wall, the building is actually acting as a retaining wall for itself, carving into the earth and creating a small plateau for the event spaces and west lawn terrace.

Cayuga Lake

UP-195.05The site diagram illustrates the natural swales and gentle undulations of the landscape.

The landscape architect highlighted and utilized these existing site features to design an irrigation pond, internal courtyards, and walking pathways around the site.

Cayuga Lake

UP-195.06The entry hall gradually slopes down toward the foyer and event spaces. A skylight above spans the length of the hall, washing the space with natural daylight.

Concrete walls initially frame certain views of the lake while denying the full vista. As guests walk further west, the event spaces open up to a wide gallery along the western glass wall, and the view reveals the full horizon of the landscape and the lake beyond.

Internal courtyards are included as integral components to the building’s design, acting as anchors to the spatial layout. These courtyards bracket the main reception hall, filtering natural daylight within and elevating the presence of landscape for the overall experience.

UP-195.07Physical model.

The right end of the building is a hidden service entrance to the upper level mechanical spaces.

A long, narrow “gap” gives the appearance of two separate buildings: the “Pavilion” (i.e. event spaces) and the “Retaining Wall”. Although, together they form one continuous building.

UP-195.08Rendered elevations (East, South, and West, respectively) demonstrate how the building is carved into the landscape.

UP-195.09Study sketches of the internal courtyards.

The courtyards differ in character and size from one another. One is heavily vegetated, while the other is meant for informal gathering.

While guests dine in the Reception Hall, they are surrounded by landscape – lake view to the west and courtyards to the north and south.

UP-195.10Close up view of the western façade.

UP-195.11View of Ceremony Hall.

The space is partially enclosed by smooth-textured concrete walls, and opens up at the west and east ends. The west view to the lake is framed, where the couple exits the chapel as newlyweds.

The ceiling is made up of concrete ribs that are perforated to bring in ambient natural daylighting. Above the ribs is a glass roof enclosure system with an interstitial layer of translucent stretched-fabric to soften the light as well as to absorb sound.

Artificial lights are integrated into some of the perforations to provide lighting at night.

UP-195.12Top: Western lawn terrace.

Bottom: Close up of the interior lounge

UP-195.13Night view from the southwestern corner of the building.

At night, the pavilion glows, giving life to the building in its natural landscape under the twilight sky.

Project Name:Aurora Event Center

Project Location:Aurora, New York, USA

Owner/Client:Withheld at request of owner

Architect(s) of Record:(names and addresses)Trahan Architects

Project Team:Trey Trahan, FAIALeigh Breslau, AIABrad McWhirter, AIAKim Nguyen, AIAYichen LeeSarah CancienneShelby DownsCharles WeimerConner Bryan

Landscape Architect:Reed Hilderbrand

Consultants:ARUP: Structural/MEP EngineerMichael Ludvik Consulting Engineers: Glass EngineerCini-Little: Food Service Consultant.

General Contractor:TBD

UP-195.XPhotographer(s):(please list which specific slides get credited to each photographer(s) listed).

Renderings: The Boundary