2010 | Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art | Winston-Salem, NC
This rehabilitation project transformed an existing historic building and its subsequent additions, restoring the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) to its stature as a significant North Carolina cultural institution.
SECCA is an internationally recognized, 35,000-square-foot museum featuring exhibits of art, sculpture and mixed media. Both its original building – the 1929 Hanes House – and later additions suffered from inherent technical deficiencies including significant moisture and groundwater penetration, improper roof flashing and inadequate environmental control. As a consequence, it was extremely difficult for the museum to maintain the high standards of temperature and humidity control required of a first-class exhibit space.
On a budget of $1.8M, the design team reshaped the grounds surrounding the facility to redirect ground water away from the building and redesigned flashing systems to prevent moisture penetration. The existing low-slope built-up roof was replaced and the Hanes House’s slate tile roof was refurbished. Major elements of the HVAC system were replaced and the main gallery spaces were also redesigned to permit greater flexibility in the staging of exhibitions. New interior finishes were applied including the removal of the museum’s original carpet and the grinding and sealing of the building’s concrete slab underfloor.
Concurrent with this renovation, SECCA commissioned the noted design firm Pentagram to revitalize its graphic branding, the colors of which Szostak Design utilized for an upgrade of the building’s exterior finishes. This simple cost-effective gesture fundamentally transformed the appearance of the facility.
AWARDS
AIA North Carolina Merit Award, 2013
Photography by Jim Sink Photography