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Building for the Future | Episode 27 Historic Architectural Elements

by Tim Blankenship
April 20, 2017
2 min read

Standout Historical Features

There are many historical features that make the WaterFire Arts Center unique. When the building was owned by the US Rubber company it had different needs than it does today. Those needs demanded solutions that we no longer commonly see today. But those original provisions make the WFAC unique.

The WFAC has a great number of large windows. This allowed the maximum amount of natural sunlight to enter the building, and minimize the amount of electrical light needed to function in a time when electricity and electric lighting were much more expensive than today.

The large scrolling doors were tall enough to allow full-size locomotives to enter the space and unload cargoes of rubber, and deliver finished product out.

Floored by the Cement Pour!

by Tim Blankenship
March 16, 2017
1 min read

Today the cement for the main hall of the WaterFire Arts Center was poured! It took all day and dozens of laborers, but the floor is complete! Truck, after truck, after truck, brought loads of cement into the arts center parking lot, where it was pumped through the emergency doors… Read More »Floored by the Cement Pour!

Building for the Future Episode 26 | Electrical

by Tim Blankenship
March 10, 2017
2 min read

Electrical Systems Make Us Glow! Nothing can compare to our bonfires on the rivers of Providence. But our electrical systems make the WaterFire Arts Center a stunning place to be! Supplementing our natural light, mandatory during the night, our lighting fixtures were chosen to be appropriate to the age and industrial history of our… Read More »Building for the Future Episode 26 | Electrical

Building for the Future Episode 22 | Three Dimensional Modeling

by Tim Blankenship
February 1, 2017
1 min read

Providence local DBVW Architects used three-dimensional computer models to help them design the WaterFire Arts Center. By relying on laser scans of the preexisting building to generate a super accurate and detailed model, interventions and modifications were laid out in an explorable, modifiable environment that eased coordination between ourselves, DBVW,… Read More »Building for the Future Episode 22 | Three Dimensional Modeling