Saratoga Performing Arts State Park Lincoln Bathhouse

Adaptive Reuse

We led programming efforts and schematic design for the adaptive reuse of the historic Lincoln Bathhouse located on the campus of the Saratoga Performing Arts State Park in Saratoga Springs, NY. At the time of its opening in 1930, the Lincoln Bathhouse was considered one of the largest bathhouses in the world.

The goal of the project was to relocate and consolidate the offices of various groups under the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) into a shared space to optimize operations, foster a more cohesive culture, and serve as a central point of contact for the public using the park complex.

H2M coordinated with our historic preservation consultant, to prepare for discussions with OPRHP and development of conceptual budgets. Our project team, also developed mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection modifications to the building and resolved building circulation concerns for optimal access and exiting. Further, one of the property’s courtyards is enclosed to provide large scale meeting spaces; we placed a low-profile green roof with large skylights, turning it into interior space while respecting its essence as an outdoor courtyard.

The final schematic design maximizes flexibility for meeting spaces, reduces visibility of the enclosure from the exterior (in accordance with SHPO general preferences), and provides green roof space accessible to building occupants from the second floor.

Historic Preservation Consultant: Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation