Hydro-electric Demonstration Site | New Woodstock, NY
The Town of Cazenovia hired ASDF to design a new enclosure for a Depression-era waterwheel, whose current concrete block enclosure is in a state of disrepair. Our design intends to make the waterwheel and its mechanisms visible to the public while also protecting it from vandalism and the elements. The structure consists of a 2x8 balloon frame clad with prefabricated panels of 1x3 vertical slats. These vertical slats conceal the waterwheel when viewed on the oblique, but as the visitor approaches, the screen becomes transparent to reveal the steel object within. Of significant importance in the design was to maintain a low cost (under $6,000) while also providing a strong and durable enclosure for the waterwheel. Although an obvious choice for the structure would have been preservative-treated wood, we sought a more environmentally sensitive method to address rot-resistance on the creek. We conducted several experiments with natural treatment methods, including ebonizing wood with a solution of iron and vinegar, and charring wood according to the traditional Japanese shou shugi ban method. Ultimately, we learned of a local source of Tamerack, a naturally durable wood species native to the Adirondacks which could be cheaply sourced from a mill only a few miles from the waterwheel site. Tamerack will be used for both the 2x8 framing and the1x3 facade screen. The wood will be untreated and rough-cut,and to keep costs down while providing important long-term durability to the structure.
Project Data:
Client: Cazenovia Area Community Development Association
Years: 2016-17
Status: Unbuilt
Program: Enclosure to exhibit hydro-electric infrastructure
Team: David Shanks, Sinead MacNamara (structural); Javier Rosa (structural)