Category Archives: Archives

Residential Properties Headquarters

KITE’s design for Residential Properties, Ltd. headquarters is on the high-visibility corner lot of residential Benefit Street and commercial Wickenden Street.  It provides 2,800 square feet of corporate office space and 3,600 square feet of rental space.

The building forms a broad sweep as it wraps this prominent corner site. The Wickenden Street front has large areas of street level glazing that respond to the adjacent commercial storefronts, while the Benefit Street elevation responds to its context by employing residential scale windows, chimney, and dormers.

Corporate offices are located on the third floor and mezzanine, taking advantage of the high ceilings and river views. The first and second floors accommodate an art gallery and commercial tenant respectively.

The Sloop Great Republic

This proposal marked the first design competition entered and won by KITE, and was a turning point in the design history of the firm.

Captain Howard Blackburn made a historic solo voyage in the 25 foot Sloop Republic from Gloucester to Lisbon in a record 41 days in 1901. A non-profit group sponsored the competition to create a permanent exhibit displaying his restored craft on the waterfront in Gloucester.

KITE’s winning entry was designed to dramatize the seaside context of the boat display with a full sized mural depicting the harbor as it was in 1901. It would allow the full rigging of the boat to be extended indoors, and by opening up one side of the enclosure to the sea, reflections of the water, sounds, and the scent of the ocean became part of the visitor experience.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Located in the heart of the historic Roger Williams Park, the early menagerie that opened in 1872 was the United States’ third official zoo. By 1978 the City of Providence and the RI Zoological Society decided to upgrade its facilities. They turned to KITE for the design of a series of new pavilions, walkways, and exhibits.

The new park designed by KITE embodies the interactive and educational spirit of the modern zoo. New walkways lead visitors through preserved natural wetlands area. Special exhibits for polar bears and sea lions incorporate underwater viewing windows. Exhibits include carefully designed habitats for North and South American animals that are seamless within the park’s topography and vegetation. The children’s learning center pavilion uses natural materials and ample daylight.

Wind in the Pines Girl Scout Camp

Located on 142 acres in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Girl Scouts came to KITE with a request to develop a master plan for the Wind in the Pines Girl Scout Camp that met their needs for a year-round camping and conference center.

KITE responded with a plan that respected the natural features of the land and provided a role model through its use of sustainable design techniques. In addition to the master plan, KITE also designed many of the pavilions as part of a phased construction plan. The buildings make ample use of passive solar heating and cooling strategies, and provide a unique character that comfortably integrates its natural surroundings.

As a pioneer in what we think of as green design today, many of the innovative design strategies explored through the pavilion designs are now mainstream.

 

Lincoln Woods State Park

A popular destination for swimmers in the summer and skaters in the winter, the freshwater beach at Lincoln State Park is marked by facilities designed by KITE. The cluster of buildings that form the park’s center is carefully sited to blend with the landscape overlooking Olney Pond. The buildings house an interpretive center for the park’s nature program, a ranger station, toilet facilities, and a concession stand.

The incorporation of passive solar design and other sustainable design features testify to KITE’s long standing commitment to green architecture.

125 Charles Street Renovation

The schematic design for the existing former mill building at 125 Charles Street in Providence included a complete renovation of the 4 story building as well as a substantial addition that connects across the Mossashuck River to the parcel’s existing parking area. The building is currently for sale and KITE would be happy to work with a buyer to modify the design to suit new needs.

Originally prepared for the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, the scheme reorients the building to take advantage of dramatic river views. After extensive site and cost analysis, the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island are now working with KITE to renovate a larger existing building.

The new imagery of the building is paired with major functional improvements and rehabilitation of the historic mill setting. The new bridge includes a green roof terrace and provides a lush outdoor educational space with amazing views of a hidden natural gem.