Rita R. Church
Rita R. Church
Community Center
Baltimore, MD / Institutional Architecture
Designed in 1920 as a two-level bath house fashioned in Classical Revival style, the rehabilitated community center is a contributing structure in a National Register Historic District. Previously neglected and left untouched, the rehabilitation of this dilapidated structure breathed new life into the facility and made it a safe, beautiful destination for the community. Rehabilitation included the exterior, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, as well as the interior. The original fabric of the exterior was in relatively good condition; hence the majority could be restored. Noncontributing later additions to the original structure that distracted from the original concept were removed. Masonry blocks and wood panels that had been used to fill in some openings were removed and replaced with doors or panels to complement the style of the original structure. The upper level open-air pavilion was enclosed with a curtain wall system—containing both solid and glazed panels that serve as a back-drop to the original columns that define the space—that is located behind the pilasters and complements the structure’s proportions. The upper level program is comprised of various multi-use spaces including a tall open space lounge that displays elements of the historic structure, such as the heavy timber trusses and masonry chimneys.
North Elevation Before
North Elevation After
South Elevation Before
South Elevation After
Computer Lab
Game Room Storage
DN
Bathroom
Bathroom
Entrance
Main Lobby
Kitchen
Desk
Office
Storage
Storage
Multipurpose Room
Floor Plan Site Plan
MH CONSTR. ENTRANCE
MH
T ST EMP OC KP IL E
INLET 120
117 118
11
6
MH 11 4
119
MH
5 11
LOD AREA: 37,891 SF
11
PL 3
2 11 1 11
ST .L O
121
DR IVE
11
Future
INLET
INLET
9 10
10
7
MH EX FENCE
MH
GYMNASIUM ADDITION
LOD
108
0
11 GATE W/ PANIC HARDWARE.
120
LIMIT OF BLDG BELOW GRADE
EX. TRANSFORMER
12 1
INLET EX RETAINING WALL & GUARDRAIL TO BE REMOVED
VEGETATED ROOF AREA
LOD
L.O.D.
CO
97 .6 0°
EXISTING BERM
ADDITION
EDGE OF EX. CORBELED PILASTER
120
EXISTING RECREATION CENTER
7' - 6 1/2" (V.I.F.)
MH
121
EXISTING POOL
EXISTING POOL DECK
121
C:\Users\bgm\Documents\1115-CD_2012-2_bgm.rvt
EXISTING RECREATION CENTER
LOD EX FENCE
12 1
12
SECTION OF NEW FENCE
0
122
12
121
13
14
3 GATES W/ PANIC HARDWARE.
EXISTING BUILDING
9 10
0 11
4
1 11
2 11 3
11
11
5 11
6 11
0 12
7 11
8 11
9 11
1 12
3:35:36 PM
2 12
Lobby & Reception Area
10 8
Lobby & Reception Area
Flexible Gathering Space
Game Room
Kitchen/Craft Room
Rita R. Church
Community Center
East Elevation
Community Center
Baltimore, MD / Institutional Architecture
Designed in 1920 as a two-level bath house fashioned in Classical Revival style, the rehabilitated community center is a contributing structure in a National Register Historic District. Previously neglected and left untouched, the rehabilitation of this dilapidated structure breathed new life into the facility and made it a safe, beautiful destination for the community. Rehabilitation included the exterior, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, as well as the interior. The original fabric of the exterior was in relatively good condition; hence the majority could be restored. Noncontributing later additions to the original structure that distracted from the original concept were removed. Masonry blocks and wood panels that had been used to fill in some openings were removed and replaced with doors or panels to complement the style of the original structure. The upper level open-air pavilion was enclosed with a curtain wall system—containing both solid and glazed panels that serve as a back-drop to the original columns that define the space—that is located behind the pilasters and complements the structure’s proportions. The upper level program is comprised of various multi-use spaces including a tall open space lounge that displays elements of the historic structure, such as the heavy timber trusses and masonry chimneys.
North Elevation Before
North Elevation After
South Elevation Before
South Elevation After
Computer Lab
Game Room Storage
DN
Bathroom
Bathroom
Entrance
Main Lobby
Kitchen
Desk
Office
Storage
Storage
Multipurpose Room
Floor Plan Site Plan
MH CONSTR. ENTRANCE
MH
T ST EMP OC KP IL E
INLET 120
117 118
11
6
MH 11 4
119
MH
5 11
LOD AREA: 37,891 SF
11
PL 3
2 11 1 11
ST .L O
121
DR IVE
11
Future
INLET
INLET
9 10
10
7
MH EX FENCE
MH
GYMNASIUM ADDITION
LOD
108
0
11 GATE W/ PANIC HARDWARE.
120
LIMIT OF BLDG BELOW GRADE
EX. TRANSFORMER
12 1
INLET EX RETAINING WALL & GUARDRAIL TO BE REMOVED
VEGETATED ROOF AREA
LOD
L.O.D.
CO
97 .6 0°
EXISTING BERM
ADDITION
EDGE OF EX. CORBELED PILASTER
120
EXISTING RECREATION CENTER
7' - 6 1/2" (V.I.F.)
MH
121
EXISTING POOL
EXISTING POOL DECK
121
C:\Users\bgm\Documents\1115-CD_2012-2_bgm.rvt
EXISTING RECREATION CENTER
LOD EX FENCE
12 1
12
SECTION OF NEW FENCE
0
122
12
121
13
14
3 GATES W/ PANIC HARDWARE.
EXISTING BUILDING
9 10
0 11
4
1 11
2 11 3
11
11
5 11
6 11
0 12
7 11
8 11
9 11
1 12
3:35:36 PM
2 12
Lobby & Reception Area
10 8
Lobby & Reception Area
Flexible Gathering Space
Game Room
Kitchen/Craft Room
Rita R. Church
Community Center
East Elevation
