Willistown Okehocking Nature Center

Willistown Township
Willistown, Pennsylvania
8,000 SF
Anticipated completion: 2012

M2 Architecture, together with Viridian Landscape Studio and Meliora Environmental Design, is designing a new pavilion, parking and site access for the Okehocking Nature Preserve for Willistown Township in Chester County, PA. Located on the site of land given to the native American Lenni-Lenape tribe by William Penn in 1701, the property is rich in both cultural and natural history.

M2 Architecture initially assisted Willistown Township Parks and Preserves department in holding a Goal Setting Workshop to establish the core principles and overall mission of the project and provided architectural support to the Township in successfully applying for a planning grant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Schematic Design began with a Design Charrette in summer of 2007 involving over 40 people over two days. Based on the results of the Charrette, we completed schematic design and presented the project at a public meeting in early October, 2007. Design Development was completed in 2009 and the project is now seeking additional funding.

The project is designed to be complementary to Chester County architecture but not imitate historic styles. The project has ambitious goals to demonstrate green technology and site design to visitors and the community, and will be designed to achieve LEED Certification. Features include rainwater collection, innovative stormwater strategies, solar energy, composting toilets and the use of salvaged building materials from an old barn that was demolished on the site.