Waterfall Arts
ABOUT
Client Waterfall Arts
Typology Cultural
Location Belfast, Maine
Year Ongoing
Design Team Matt O’Malia, Timothy Lock, Riley Pratt, Alexandra Pagán, Mark Peterson
Consultants Albert Putnam Associates; Thomas Fowler, PE; Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture
OPAL is working with the community arts nonprofit Waterfall Arts on a significant renovation of its Belfast, ME, building, where it hosts educational programs, rents studio space to professional artists, and presents events, performances, and art exhibitions. Our design revitalizes the existing building, a historic red brick structure, with an addition containing a lobby, reception area, and exhibit space.
Planned as the building’s new primary entrance, the addition preserves the historical relationship of the original façade to the street, while playing on the traditional Maine “dooryard” entry sequence. Generous glazing will make the interior program elements visible across a new landscaped entry plaza, while a screen of back-lit perforated aluminum panels above creates a shimmering contrast with the building’s massive brick walls.
While better expressing the creative vitality that Waterfall Arts fosters, the project will also dramatically improve the building’s accessibility and energy performance. A new elevator and other accessibility upgrades will bring the building into ADA compliance. A deep energy retrofit will advance the facility toward the organization’s goal of net-zero energy use.
