George Ranalli Architect GRA

The Wellington Arts Center Master Plan, Palm Beach, Fla.

Wellington Cultural Trust engaged George Ranalli Architect to perform master planning services for the Wellington Arts Center municipal arts complex located on a 10-acre site, sloping toward a 99-acre lake, at one end, and public hiking trails, at the other.  The initial assessment addressed a range of factors necessary to determine feasibility for a large facility that would enrich the community of all ages, social, and cultural backgrounds, year-round. such as soil conditions, topography, accessibility, population, culture, zoning, and land use regulations, among others. Data analysis supported financial, regulatory, and program planning.

Master planning integrates sustainable architectural form and landscape design into the site featuring rolling fields and groves of mature trees at the site and makes the most of the majestic lake. The site plan accommodates cultural entertainment venues such as theaters, galleries, and visitors amenities, such as outdoor serveries, restaurants, and parking structures. Landscape design proposes a network of shady, active, accessible pathways and ramps that embrace the contours of the harbor and lagoon, punctuated by pavilions, plazas, and bandstands, garden terraces, and water elements, supplied by filtered lake water circumnavigating the site, to fill foundations, pools, and other dynamic water features. Proposed massing and the careful placement and orientation of structures accommodate performance and fine arts exhibition uses, resident artist studios, education programs, environmental stewardship, and many other small-to-medium sized group uses, and structures, for larger-sized groups, include three midsized buildings, located at each of the three main points-of-entry, with capacity for up to 1,000 daily visitors, and two lakeside structures, anchored to sweeping stone balustrades.