Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"On a former industrial complex in\nWorcester, Massachusetts, the Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center tells the\nstory of the site and surrounding community without using historic artifacts.\nThrough its sustainable design interventions, including remediation of the\nformer brownfield site, the center seeks to help heal land damaged by\nindustrial processes and the community that bore the brunt of the United\nStates\u2019 industrial evolution. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The site\u2019s history stretches back to\n1795 when a paper mill opened along the banks of the Blackstone River. In the\nlate 1800s, the site was home to American Steel \u0026 Wire, which churned out\niron products at three plants across Worcester until it ceased operations in\n1977, leaving behind shells of buildings and a toxic brownfield. As American\nindustrialization declined in the mid-20th century, so did the quality of life\nfor those living in Quinsigamond Village, just across the river from the site."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Ultimately, the visitor center aims to\nsupport the rejuvenation of the village, once home to many millworkers who\nsuffered greatly from the harmful environmental and economic byproducts of\nindustrialization. The design strategy reiterates the intertwined histories of\nthe site and village through form, materials, and industrial iconography. Steel\nsite frames span the center and its adjacent walkway, creating the sensation of\nstanding in a large, industrial site, though the center is a modest 11,000\nsquare feet. The technique helped manage the financial constraints of the\nproject, which totaled just $14.5 million, without compromising the desired\neffect. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Steel and wire details throughout\nreference the former manufacturer, while the center\u2019s folded roof plane\nresponds directly to the original mill building\u2019s distinct sawtooth monitors.\nMuch of the project\u2019s wood and brick materials were salvaged from nearby\nindustrial sites. A new pedestrian bridge spurs interactions with the river,\nnow an asset after a decades-long remediation effort. The roar of a nearby\nhighway is dampened by the sound of water that rushes over the dam that once helped\npower the complex."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The team employed numerous design\nstrategies that provide social, economic, and environmental value, but the\nevent pavilion at the edge of the site encompasses all three. Capped with a 70\nkW photovoltaic array that provides more than half of the center\u2019s energy, the\npavilion infrastructure supports concerts and other events that generate\nrevenue for the center. Outside of scheduled events, the pavilion provides a\nshaded space for informal gatherings or exercise. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The site, once deeply\nscarred by decades of industry, is once again green, and the adjoining village\nis richly diverse. Since opening in 2018, the center has hosted scores of\ncommunity events, school groups, and other tourists, helping Quinsigamond\nVillage continue to regain its footing. "]]]]}