The Roxbury at Stratton Falls

This multiyear collaboration brought to life an ambitious new contemporary resort lodging concept. The owners presented imaginatively themed design ideas for this resort community and with the help of architects and engineers, a project that pushed the limits of engineering and balanced creative expression with function and sustainability was realized. The project budget was maintained despite the highly unusual construction site challenges. The project schedule was ambitious given the unique specifications, but the key construction season milestones were met. This impacted the intended time schedule as well, extending the grand opening of the cottages and mansion by a few months. This project is particularly innovative because it translated the intricate and complex design ideas of the owners into a fully realized concept that required “out-of-the-box” engineering solutions. Conical vaulted ceiling and groin arch ceilings with hanging chandeliers, tightly spiraled staircases, and the unique use of wood structural elements and member connections in the cottage interiors illustrate how the design expanded the ordinary. By creating imaginative retreats that meet the comfort needs of the visitors, while offering a unique and truly memorable vacation experience, the project advances architectural and engineering disciplines, demonstrating that an expansive vision can be met with an equally encompassing technical design that leads to a functional and exceptional space. This project will serve as an inspiration to other creative efforts that seek to blend creative vision with technical problem-solving expertise. This project demonstrates the ability to solve unique design challenges with creative thinking and close collaboration of an inter disciplinary team of architects and engineers. A significant design challenge on this project was the historic mansion renovation since it required that more than 50 percent of the space to be reconfigured. To accommodate the needs of a commercial resort property, spaces needed to be ADA compliant and optimized for commercial use. The undulating site topography presented challenges as well when determining how the cottages would be sited.