Archeologists had long determined that the areas along the Potomac River (including what now known as the Palisades Playground) were and are recognized as sites of Native American settlement. Located on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River and bounded by two stream ravines, artifacts, including stone axes and hoes, pottery fragments, stone projectile points and knives, beads, ornaments and other types of artifacts, were collected in early investigations -- many currently curated by the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History.

Designed by the National Park Service in the 1930’s, the original field house is a true example of the Colonial Revival style, popular in American architecture at the time. It included an auditorium/gym with game rooms for children, offices, restrooms, a small kitchen and more. In 2016, efforts to bring improvements and new facilities to the Palisades community were initiated. As part of a design build team headed by MCN Build, cox graae + spack architects designed and administered construction for a modernized Palisades Community Recreation Center.

The project scope included a modernization and restoration of the 6,500-square-foot existing Field House and a 7,000-square-foot addition. Specific program spaces were to include a multipurpose room, flexible rooms for classes, meetings and community functions, a gymnasium for indoor basketball with striping for other activities, a fitness room and other spaces tailored to serve both teens and seniors. According to Don Gregory, AIA, principal at cox graae + spack architects, “In many ways, this project transcended time. Our marching orders were to work on an historic site dating back thousands of years, with the centerpiece being a building which was 85 years old. Our client was not just the District of Columbia, but also, many local community organizations and members with whom we connected via a structured community outreach program. We had many masters. Our collective goal was to update the facility, but in doing so, exhibit the past, present and future. After much deliberation, we were able to come up with a program that was accepted by all.”

No major construction needed to be done on the initial older building, as Gregory stated “It had great original bones. However, we did replace deteriorated windows and doors, and restored and replaced lost interior finishes utilizing original design drawings as a guide.”

He went on to explain that there was only one place for the new addition to be built, and that was not at the current building’s front. Rather, it was on the side closest to the river, where those who were inside could see across the Potomac River to Virginia and vice versa. “We envisioned glass walls on all sides facing the river offering exceptional views. Yet we wanted the proposed addition to blend in with the understated features of the original building, and clearly, we did not want the result to be described as a ‘glass box.’ So, we considered various materials that would be complementary with all that glass. One restrictive D.C. preservation mandate, which was much appreciated, was that we were not to ‘mimic the original building’s form and cladding materials. The addition had to exhibit a clear separation between what was original and what was new.” 

To make a longer story shorter, that’s when a natural slate CupaClad® rainscreen system was considered and shortly thereafter, specified. “We evaluated and promoted the use of natural slate for the project for its beauty, timelessness and longevity,” explained Gregory. “CupaClad natural slate was well received and approved for use in our several public presentations to D.C. Historic Preservation Agencies. We also carefully considered how the gray/charcoal-colored horizontally placed slate units were to look and be installed. Our team managed the design and installation of the slate units, not unlike typical masonry corner-to-corner installations, where only full or half-length units were to be installed. In layman’s terms, this translated into corner conditions where no ‘fill-in’ material was needed as the slate units wrap the corner conditions seamlessly. There was no doubt in our minds that by following this dimensionally rigorous, but sensible approach, CupaClad rainscreen would work out.” 

CupaClad is a natural slate rainscreen cladding system providing a range of cladding solutions, from traditional to contemporary, offering architects and specifiers a wide choice, suited for any individual design. Highest quality, durable CupaClad slates are installed using a new and efficient installation system, painstakingly crafted by Cupa Pizarras, the world’s leading source of top-quality slate surfacing materials for construction. 

It should be mentioned that CupaClad systems are quick and easy to install by any facade contractor. Once installed, the slate is safely set-in place. Because with natural slate there is no color fading, it stands up to any climatic change, and no maintenance therefore is ever needed. 

“We really enjoyed working with the CupaClad product and the CupaClad people,” said Gregory. “We have another project utilizing CupaClad on the boards and plan on specifying it for future projects.”