Jones Beach State Park West Bathhouse

Historic Restoration and Renovation

In 2015, NYSOPRHP appropriated $65 million toward refurbishment of Jones Beach State Park, including its West Bathhouse which has been in operation for over 90 years and serves millions of visitors each season.

Changing use patterns over the decades had resulted in major alterations to the original Bathhouse design, concealing many of the structure’s classic design elements. Our design team reviewed old photographs, site plans, and drawings of the Bathhouse to determine which key elements required restoration or re-creation.

The new design included the restoration of an original open passageway on the first floor connecting the courtyard pool and the ocean beach, as well as the creation of a new retail space, employee restroom, prep kitchen facility, a multi-product concession space with modern amenities, and more.

Sustainability was achieved by adaptive reuse of the building, which saves land and reduces construction waste, as well as the installation of new LED lighting, high-efficiency air conditioning systems, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. All HVAC, plumbing, and electrical design elements were installed in inconspicuous locations, out of the sight of visitors, so as to preserve the historic aesthetic.

Other design elements, such as raised electrical outlets, stained concrete floors, glazed tile walls and concrete countertops, and floor drains throughout the building were chosen to greatly improve resiliency in the event of a storm.

As part of the redesign, we also performed asbestos and lead testing and designed specifications for remediation and abatement in accordance with the clean air standards of New York State and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Second floor renovation work included the restoration of the Marine Dining Hall and the preservation of its Art Deco design motifs and interior finishes as visualized by Robert Moses.

Awards
ACEC New York – Platinum Award