SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM DULUTH, GEORGIA
SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM DULUTH, GEORGIA
PHILOSOPHY Great projects don’t just happen. They spring from a vision, a conceptual goal
that guides decision-making from start to finish. There lies success. Our process is to listen to you, to observe your needs and your strengths, to wrap those into that guiding vision, and then map out a practical path for realizing it.
It’s our philosophy that from the outset we should seek to create a long-term relationship with you. We support that by spending time to understand your
history, to frame it in the here and now based on identification of goals, economic opportunities, and the specific market and programming nuances that will lead to a transformative future for the Southeastern Railway Museum.
EXPERTISE For more than 40 years DAG Architects has been working with developers, corporate clients, retailers, asset managers and other holders of real estate. We under-
stand what is required to create great projects. Because of our breadth and depth of expertise in virtually every building type, our professional strengths are virtually unmatched in a boutique design firm.
With a rich history in designing many award-winning buildings, we don’t let that
stand in our way. Rather, we approach every project with a keen understanding of
the client’s expectations. Whether they be economic, altruistic, or something entirely different, we recognize that our greatest compliment will be when the project is completed, and our client is satisfied. Until then, we won’t rest. Some will call it expertise. We prefer to call it commitment.
Similar Projects From the outset, DAG Architects has selectively worked on museum-type public spaces that seek to capture the AIA FLORIDA AIAFLORIDA FLORIDA FIRM OF THE YEAR essence of the client’s exhibits. AIA The Indian Temple Mound Museum in Ft. Walton Beach opened in 1972 and the firm was engaged in 2002 to undertake a limited redesign of the site to improve traffic flow and enhance the customer experience. The museum houses interpretative exhibits depicting 12,000 years of Native American occupation. Over 1,000 artifacts of stone, bone, clay and shell are housed on the museum grounds, as well as one of the finest Fort Walton collections of Beach, prehistoricFlorida ceramics in the Southeastern United States. Exhibits also Fort Walton Walton Beach, FloridaExplorers, local pirates, and early settlers. Fort Beach, Florida include artifacts from the European Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Indian IndianTemple TempleMound MoundMuseum MuseumRenovations Renovations Indian Temple Mound Museum Renovations Indian Temple Mound Museum Renovations
FIRM OF THE YEAR AIA FLORIDA 2007 FIRM OF THE YEAR 2007 FIRM OF THE YEAR 2007 2007
Similar Projects
National Civil War Museum Columbus, Georgia Located in Columbus, Georgia, the National Civil War Naval Museum overlooks the Chattahoochee River. It houses the largest surviving Confederate warship, the CSS Jackson, as well as the wreckage of the CSS Chattahoochee. Other exhibits include a replica of the USS Hartford with its berth deck, ward room and captain’s cabin, an actual cutter or “ship’s boat” from the USS Hartford, a full scale replica of the USS Monitor’s famous turret, and an immersive panoramic dockside exhibit.
When we were engaged by Walton county, FL to design a major renovation for the original Walton-Defuniak library, which is the oldest library in the state. The driving impetus was to create more appropriate space to house a large private collection given to the library by Palmer College’s Professor, Kenneth Bruce. He originally left the collection of arms and armor to the college and when the college closed in the 1930s, the city of Defuniak Springs became the recipient of the collection. It was later given to the library. Many of the weapons are European and from the era of the Crusades, the Orient, along with Kentucky muskets from the 18th century. In 1984, just three years after our founding, we designed the rear section of the building which blends architecturally with the original hardware-frame building.
Similar Projects
Atlanta History Center and Cyclorama Atlanta, Georgia While with another firm, Larry Sweat was a key member of the design team charged with a massive renovation for the Atlanta History Center and Cyclorama. The Museum was founded in 1926 and currently consists of nine permanent, and several temporary, exhibitions. Atlanta History Center’s campus is 33-acres and features historic gardens and houses located on the grounds, including the Swan House, Smith Farm, and Wood Family Cabin. The design team focused on the Atlanta History Center main building, which serves as the “front door” to the complex. Part of the design program included a new wing of the building which would house the Cyclorama. The canvas painting at one time was the largest oil painting in the world, and if unrolled would measure 42 feet high by 358 feet long. Larry’s design work included the reconfiguration of much of the building’s interior, including additional programming to enhance the guest experience.
Atlanta History Center and Cyclorama It was during this renovation and expansion of the museum that the locomotive, Texas, was moved to the museum. The Texas was built in 1856 for the Western & Atlantic Railroad, which had established its terminus in 1837 at the site that would become Atlanta. Relocating that engine was no small task!
Design Team The success of a project stems from an ability to position the right team members at the right time. For the Southeastern Railway Museum we’ve assembled a senior team experienced in cultural arts projects who, in their work together, have demonstrated a knack for collaboration, creativity and vision. Larry brings to DAG a portfolio of design experience in thirty
states. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-architecture
from Clemson University in 1974. After studying at the Center for Building Research and Urban Studies in Genova, Italy, Larry re-
turned to Clemson and earned his Master of Architecture in 1976. His team leadership skills have provided for many award-win-
ning projects throughout his forty-three years of practice. Larry
embraces a design philosophy that conceptually focuses on the
project and its surrounding market, taking into account even the
most subtle of market influences and nuances which can often be overlooked. His goal on every project is to deliver maximum value to the client by providing design concepts that not only achieve
an appropriate aesthetic, but also contribute to the success of the
Larry Sweat, AIA Design Principal
client’s mission.
Larry has a distinct passion for projects that are designed for the end-user, and often from the inside out. Whether its retail, medical office, multifamily, institutional or mixed-use in nature, Larry seizes the opportunity to guide and shape the design effort so
as to ultimately bring to market a building that its owners and the market it serves can be proud. Larry is a member of BOMA, ICSC, NAIOP and MOB.
Robert has leadership experience in all aspects of design and execution for large, high-profile projects including convention cen-
ter, corporate office, mixed use and sports. These have involved coordination of the various stakeholders required to address
complex district and campus planning for dynamic urban sites. Robert is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor
of Architecture and earned a Master of Architecture from Clemson University. He recognizes central importance of elevating
team commitment and performance across the unforseens of long-cycle projects and has played key roles in the design of
several iconic buildings including the Mercedes Benz Stadium
and Georgia Aquarium, both in Atlanta. He has long been active
Robert Bielamowicz Associate Principal
in firm initiatives for cultural identification, strategic planning and business development. .
Don aspired to be an architect since his early childhood. Now with more than 35 years of experience, he has helped design
award-winning projects around the world, having held leadership positions in firms of various sizes. Prior to returning to the south, Don spent over twenty years in New York City collaborating as a lead designer and Design Partner with Richard Meier & Partners and Thomas Phifer and Partners. He joined DAG in 2016 and
now contributes to the current culture of design excellence as a
firmwide design leader. Don earned both a Bachelor of Architec-
ture degree and Bachelor of Building Science degree from Auburn University and is a member of the American Institute of Archi-
tects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration
Boards (NCARB). Don’s rigorous design process and award-win-
Don Cox, AIA
Associate Principal
ning experience combines with his technical abilities and contemporary aesthetic prowess making him an invaluable member for any project.
We should also note that DAG Associate Principal, Don Cox, has extensive museum design experience as highlighted below. Weishaupt Forum Schwendi, Germany with Richard Meier & Partners 1988-1992 A complex made up of two principal structures: a cafeteria and training center housed in a single-bar building, and a portico building. The portico building accommodates a large product display area and a 50-seat orientation space at grade, with a gallery for the industrialist owner’s collection of late-twentieth-century art above. Gagosian Gallery Beverly Hills, California with Richard Meier & Partners 1994 Assisted our Los Angeles office with the design of the new gallery building in Beverly Hills. Rachofsky House Dallas, Texas with Richard Meier & Partners 1991-1996 Situated on a 3-acre lot in a suburban landscape, this 10,000 sf house doubles as a private museum that draws from the owner’s extensive collection (over 800 works) of contemporary art. Rachofsky House Art Gallery Dallas, Texas with Richard Meier & Partners 1996-1997 Sited as a stand-alone gateway building to the main Rachofsky House, the 3,000sf Art Gallery is primarily intended to display sculpture and oversized paintings. The Getty Museum Interiors Los Angeles, California with Richard Meier & Partners 1994 Assisted our Los Angeles office with the design development of gallery interiors. Rachofsky House II (Unbuilt Project) Dallas, Texas with Thomas Phifer and Partners 2004
OUR PROCESS FOR DISCOVERY We will forge a partnership with The Southeastern Railway Museum in the truest
sense of the word. From the outset, our entire team will work in tandem with you,
and it begins by listening to you and your stakeholders. We have found this formula to be most advantageous as members of the team not only help craft the client’s
vision into a workable solution, they serve to guide the project with an understanding of how every component of the museum and its grounds work together to create a truly awesome environment.
We see the project as a blank canvas, in a sense. Our goal is to take all the assets
you currently have and arrange them in a manner that will tell a compelling story of the significance of the Railway and its contributions to the region. But, in order to tell that story, we must discover its many facets.
Our inherent belief that “Together Everyone Achieves More” causes team members to be aware of the project inside and out. Designers call upon fellow team
members to address problems while seeking solutions that will benefit you. It is a meshing together of minds and talent, if you will.
TELLING YOUR STORY Our design program begins with the creation of a marketing piece that will greatly assist you in telling your story from the outset. We envision this piece to become the backbone of the museum as you set out to attract new patrons, raising the
monies necessary to build a first-class museum that fashions the story of the rail-
road and its contributions to America. It can be viewed as a mission statement and vision wrapped into one organized and beautiful package.
This piece, in tandem with helping you to identify a key community figure to serve as your emissary, will catapult the museum vision into the marketplace of ideas, raising awareness and support.
SO RA
EXIS
ENTRY
SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM
EXISTING CONDITIONS - VISIBILITY FROM BUFORD HIGHWAY & SITE ACCESS
DULUTH DEPOT
DULUTH DEPOT
SO RA
PRO
<PH
- VIS - AM - LA - NE - PLA - VIS
<PH
- NE - PLA
<PH
- MO - ON - PLA
SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM PROPOSED MASTERPLAN
<PHASE I> - VISITOR PARKING WITH - AMPITHEATER - LANDSCAPE BUFFER BETWEEN ADJACENT PROPERTY - NEW MINIATURE TRAIN ENTRY SHELTER AND TRACK - PLAZA BETWEEN EXISTING EXHIBIT HALLS - VISITOR / ORIENTATION BUILDING: 1 STORY
20,000 TOTAL
CAFE/FOOD/CATERING KITCHEN EXHIBITS LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION RESTROOMS ROTUNDA CONFERENCE ARCHIVES
4,000 6,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 5,000 3,000 4,000
<PHASE II> - NEW EXHIBIT HALL - PLAZA EXTENTION TO NEW EXHIBIT HALL
<PHASE III> - MOVIE STUDIO - ON GRADE PRODUCTION LOT - PLAZA EXTENTION TO NEW MOVIE STUDIO
SOU RAIL
AMPI
SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM
AMPITHEATER / SPECIAL EVENTS
+ + +
GREEN AMPITHEATER SEATING GREEN AMPITHEATER SEATING
GREEN AMPITHEATER SEATING
ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDHOUSE
Enhancing the Visitor Experience Much like a music conductor, our design team arranges the many components of the museum into meaningful sub-parts that each have a story to tell. We do that once we have a full understanding of the story. Together, they blend into the bigger story and that’s where memories are made. For instance, we believe it important for any project, whether it be an office building, resort hotel or museum, to have a “front door” if you will. That’s the visitor’s first impression. It must be welcoming, inviting those on the outside to step in. We incorporated that idea into the Atlanta History Center. You might recall that the front of the Center was very “box-like”. In rearranging the interior somewhat, we were able to create a curved front to the building, giving it an “open arms” feel that says to visitors, “come in”.
ELEVATED PLATFORMS
While it is nearly impossible to predict consumer behavior more than five years out, there are obviously some components that will become permanent features and located accordingly. In design, the goal is to establish a presence that will stand the test of time while being flexible enough to make subtle changes when and if appropriate.
UNDERCARRIAGE VIEW
RMS
SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM
NEW FEATURES - DIFFERENT VIEWS
ELEVATED PLATFORMS
VIEW UNDERCARRIAGE VIEW
ELEVATED ELEVATED VIEW VIEW
When the story is told correctly through design, your visitors will experience something new every time they come, making it less necessary to recreate the venue every few years. It is certainly important for the project to define those areas that can change as needed to meet the needs and expectations at that point in time. Flexible space which blends int the design is vitally important to maintain interest and capture a timely message.
ELEVATED VIEW
WHAT LIES AHEAD? Museums evolve over time. However, that doesn’t mean that they change themes
or focus. It means that well designed projects can adjust to market shifts. As your designer for this project, we seek to uncover as much as possible. We look within
your organization to hear your story and the story of Southeastern Railways. From
that we weave the fabric of the railroad, the people who built it and the community that benefitted from its presence. We suspect that many are intrigued by trains. There’s a certain romanticism that comes along with this piece of history that served to build America, beginning nearly two centuries ago.
Our goal is to cause the museum to come alive. It becomes a venue that emo-
tionally connects with its guests. It tells the story in a fashion that causes one to
exude with pride and wonderment. It celebrates the railroad and places a spotlight
squarely on Southeastern Railways. We will know that we succeeded when people leave more enthused about the contributions made, resulting in a better country and community.
So, what does lie ahead? There’s an opportunity to take an idea that has sprouted
and grow it into a place that celebrates the railroad and its contribution to America and the South. If that is achieved, people will come back time and time. And they will tell your story long into the future.
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