Potawatomi Conservatory Renovation

The Potawatomi Conservatory is located within Potawatomi Park in South Bend, Indiana and is scheduled to receive significant renovations to improve utility efficiencies and site conditions. The main focus of the project is to improve the mechanical and electrical systems. However, some site renovations and circulation improvements are also proposed. The ultimate goal of the project is to help the Conservatory to continue to serve as one of the primary cultural amenities for Potawatomi Park and for the South Bend and Michiana area.

Lehman & Lehman was commissioned by Kil Architecture & Planning of South Bend to provide site design services and was assigned the task of developing convenient parking, a clear main entrance and an accessible walkway connection to the Potawatomi Zoo and to additional parking.
The proposed demolition of the existing greenhouses will allow for the development of an east entry into the facility and for a new parking lot. To promote and demonstrate the effectiveness of bio-retention and filtration, a rain garden is also proposed along the east side of the parking lot.
The project is scheduled to begin this fall with completion in the late spring of 2012. Below is a photographic gallery of the project's progress.

Construction Phase

3.26.12 Construction of new landscape mounds

3.26.12 Subgrade preparation for new parking lot

3.26.12 Excavation for retention area

3.26.12 Excavation for new city sidewalk and driveway

3.20.12 Proposed location for rain water harvesting system

3.20.12 Excavation for new walkway connecting parking lot to south entrance

3.20.12 Excavation for new parking lot and driveway

3.20.12 Preparation for west end of new south walkway connection

3.20.12 New north walkway connection to Kid's Kingdom and parking lot

Pre-Construction Phase

8.12.11 Existing entrance to Ella-Morris Conservatory.

8.12.11 Existing boiler house and greenhouses to be demolished for new parking lot.

8.12.11 Existing building foundation to be removed. Proposed location of new greenhouse addition.

8.12.11 Existing greenhouses (background) to be demolished for new parking lot.

8.12.11 Proposed location of new parking lot.

8.12.11 Existing Mishawaka Avenue streetscape in front of Conservatory (looking west).

8.12.11 Existing Mishawaka Avenue streetscape in front of Conservatory (looking east).

8.12.11 Existing Ella-Morris Conservatory (background) and the existing greenhouses set for demolition.

8.12.11 Existing alley to be improved and re-routed.

8.12.11 Existing parking lot north of Conservatory. Proposed location of new accessible walkway.

8.12.11 Proposed location of new accessible walkway connecting the north parking lot to the Conservatory.

Potawatomi Park Exercise Plaza

Building on the success of the Potawatomi Park "Fun for All' Project with the award of the 2007 Access to Recreation Grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has secured additional funding for the continued development of universally accessible outdoor play. The recent award will allow the Community Foundation to expand the existing playground, built in 2009, and to construct a new outdoor exercise area.
Lehman & Lehman was commissioned by the Community Foundation to design and oversee the construction of the new exercise area and the accessible walkway. Ancon Construction of Goshen, Indiana was the contractor responsible for the implementation of the proposed design.
Below is a photographic gallery of the construction process.

Conceptual Sketch

Pre-Construction Phase

5.12.11 Proposed location of the exercise area.

5.12.11 Existing gravel path to be replaced - east connection.

5.12.11 Existing pavilion adjacent to the proposed exercise area.

7.14.11 Proposed location of new accessible walkway connecting the parking lot to the playground.

7.14.11 View of the parking lot from the top of the hill.

7.14.11 Existing walkway that the new accessible walkway will tie into.

Construction Phase

9.29.11 Excavation of main exercise area.

9.29.11 Excavation of new east walkway connection.

9.29.11 Excavation of new pavilion connection.

9.29.11 Preparation of main exercise area with adjacent pavilion in background.

9.29.11 View from the existing playground area of exercise area.

9.30.11 Excavation of accessible walkway - view from the parking lot.

9.30.11 Excavation of accessible walkway - view from the top of the hill.

9.30.11 Installation of yard drains adjacent to the exercise area.

10.14.11 Setting forms for the exercise area.

10.14.11 Concrete forms for the new pavilion walkway connection.

10.14.11 Setting forms for accessible walkway - view from the parking lot.

10.14.11 Entry node with bollards at the edge of the parking lot.

10.17.11 Early morning pour of walkway.

10.17.11 Finishing of accessible concrete walkway.

Post-Construction Phase

11.11.11 Completed accessible walkway.

11.11.11 Completed pavilion walkway connection.

11.11.11 Completed exercise area.

11.11.11 Completed exercise area - view from pavilion.

Landscape Architects Hit the Streets Nationwide

From Alaska to Florida, landscape architects will hold simultaneous events on 08.17.11 to educate the public. Watch this video or stop by the County/City Building in South Bend, Indiana at noon to learn more.

Take a hike and call me in the morning

"We’ve heard it before…we all need to get up and move more. No one is exempt – not us, our kids, nor our parents. We know, we know – but how many of us have treadmills, stairclimbers or another piece of expensive fitness equipment in our homes that is currently serving as: a) a coatrack, b) a cluttered catch-all, or c) is simply sitting by its lonesome gathering dust by the minute? And let’s not get started on those unused gym memberships. Knowing doesn’t equal doing, and we pay for it with larger waistlines or hitting that dreaded number on the scale. It happens…but it’s never too late to turn it around. A walk in the park might be just what the doctor ordered!"
So begins the March 31, 2011 entry of HEALTHLINES Riverview Hospital Noblesville's health blog. Click here to read more about "Park Prescriptions" and discover how your local park may be just what you need!

Hillis Hans Park

Hillis Hans Park, located in the 600 block of East 13^th Street is a public, neighborhood park in Mishawaka, Indiana. At just over five acres in size, the park currently offers tennis courts, playground equipment, basketball courts, picnic tables, grills and restrooms. Lehman & Lehman was commissioned by the City of Mishawaka to redesign the park with new site amenities and internal circulation. Upon completion of the design plans and a successful bidding process, LL Geans Construction Company of Mishawaka was selected to complete the transformation of the park. Once complete, the park will offer residents a new park shelter, a new basketball court, an expanded playground with new equipment, a new internal walkway, improved park lighting and new tree and landscape plantings. The park is expected to be completed and dedicated on June 18th. Below is a photographic gallery of the construction process.

SITE PLAN

GRAND OPENING

6.18.11 Mayor Wood addressing the crowd at the Grand Opening

6.18.11 New sign at entrance to Park

6.18.11 New picnic shelter

6.18.11 New concrete basketball courts

6.18.11 Play area with new equipment

6.18.11 Finished renovated restroom

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

6.2.11 Fine grading renovated lawn areas

6.2.11 New park bench

6.2.11 New trash receptacle

6.2.11 New hardieboard soffit on existing restroom

6.2.11 New hardieboard ceiling on existing restroom

6.2.11 New climbing play structure

6.2.11 Completed shelter and renovated restroom

6.2.11 New playground equipment and safety surfacing

6.2.11 Installation of the new standing seam roof on existing restroom

5.20.11 New brick park sign

5.20.11 New soffit (back) vs. old soffit (front)

5.20.11 Sistering of existing rafters

5.20.11 Exposed rafters of restroom after removal of the roof

5.20.11 Demolition of existing restroom roof

5.20.11 Paving existing streets around the park

5.20.211 Paving existing streets around the park

5.20.11 Milling of existing streets around the park

5.19.11 New street trees on the perimeter of the park

5.19.11 Early construction of the new masonry park sign

5.19.11 Wood ceiling of the new shelter

5.19.11 New framing for the brick columns on the shelter

5.19.11 Installation of standing seam roof on the new shelter

5.10.11 New ADA curb ramp

5.10.11 Spreading topsoil for finished grade and seeding

5.10.11 Construction of new shelter

5.10.11 Construction of new shelter

5.10.11 Damaged wood soffit prior to repair

5.10.11 Existing fascia and soffit damage prior to to replacement

5.10.11 Sagging roof between trusses due to deteriorating substrate

5.10.11 Holes in existing roof of restroom

5.10.11 Roof of existing restroom prior to removal

5.5.11 Setting of forms for new ADA ramp

5.5.11 New playground bench pad and access point - west end

5.5.11 New double rider play equipment

5.5.11 New concrete basketball court

5.5.11 New northeast entry sidewalk

5.5.11 New integral color concrete bench area at new basketball court

4.28.11 New internal walkway connecting to the perimeter sidewalk on the northeast corner of the park

4.28.11 New perimeter sidewalk

4.28.11 Forms set for the new basketball court

4.28.11 New shelter pad with shelter equipment ready for assembly


4.28.11 New accessible connection to the existing restroom with concrete bench pad

4.28.11 New internal walkway leading to the new shelter and existing restroom

4.28.11 New accessible connection to the expanded playground with concrete pads for new bench and trash receptacle.

4.13.11 Construction of new curb and gutter

4.13.11 Finished section of new curb and gutter

4.13.11 End section of the internal walkway to be connected to a new perimeter sidewalk

4.13.11 New concrete playground curb

4.13.11 Saw cutting of joints in the new shelter slab

4.13.11 Pouring and finishing of new concrete walkway

4.8.11 New concrete sidewalk and approach to existing restroom

4.8.11 Completed footing for new shelter

4.8.11 Forming of new concrete walkway

4.8.11 forms set for new concrete playground curb

4.8.11 Demolition of existing curb & sidewalk; excavation and preparation for new sidewalk & curb

4.1.11 Outdated play equipment edging removed

4.1.11 Construction of footing for new shelter

4.1.11 Contractor adjusts the forms of the new shelter footings

4.1.11 Excavation of poor soils for new walkway

3.24.11 Demolition of existing play court

3.24.11 Demolition of existing basketball court

3.24.11 New light poles and fixtures, installed by Mishawaka Utilities

3.24.11 Mishawaka Utilities installing 1 of 4 new light poles

3.24.11 Demolition of existing tennis courts

PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE

11.4.10 Existing plastic playground edging to be removed and replaced

8.5.10 Existing restroom with no accessible access

8.5.10 Existing playground with outdated play equipment

8.5.10 Existing perimeter sidewalk and curb to be replaced

8.5.10 Existing tennis courts to be removed

8.5.10 Existing park open space