Davis, Bowen & Friedel wins award for Rehoboth city hall design

The American Institute of Architects Chesapeake Bay has recognized Davis, Bowen & Friedel Inc. with a citation award for the design of the Rehoboth Beach City Hall and Police Station complex.

This year’s AIA Chesapeake Bay 2020 Excellence in Design Awards celebration was held virtually Nov. 5, narrated by DBF Architect Kevin Shertz, AIA.

A panel of judges from AIA Savannah reviewed nearly 30 submissions of exceptional architectural design projects within the Chesapeake Bay region. Entries in residential and nonresidential categories, both new construction and renovation/addition subcategories, were recognized and awarded.

Comprising more than 47,000 square feet, the Rehoboth Beach City Hall renovation and addition was designed to upgrade a functionally deficient facility. The municipal facility serves as the city’s primary public service/public safety building and includes city administration departments, Alderman’s Court, mayor and commissioner chambers, a convention center, and a police station encompassing a 911 dispatch and emergency services center. The addition includes three stories above the basement level and houses all the departments, extending the first floor from the new entrance on Rehoboth Avenue to provide the public easy access to city hall and the convention center.

When designing the new structure, public safety was the city’s No. 1 priority, as the existing police station had become obsolete in regard to modern-day public safety standards. To address these concerns, the new facility provides complete separation of public parking from the area needed for public safety vehicles, to provide security to those entering and exiting the station. While the police department and city hall share the same building, it was paramount for both entities to function independently from each other to meet each department’s individual needs.

Another goal of the renovation was to create a more prominent street presence along Rehoboth Avenue. To effectively address the city’s needs, the design was broken down into three forms that emulate facades of neighboring buildings using brick and cast concrete similar to the material used for Rehoboth’s other civic structures, which include the library and the nearby fire station.

With the assistance of past and present mayors Sam Cooper and Stan Mills, City Manager Sharon Lynn, and a task force of commissioners and concerned citizens, the design team was able to assemble a cohesive design that would integrate all four city buildings into one central location. While incorporating building features similar to the existing street façade, the design encouraged continuity along Rehoboth Avenue’s historic streetscape.

“We jumped into this project eight years ago with the goal of transforming this outdated and separated complex into a unified, sustainable facility – one that reflected the coastal nature of the city, maintained its historical aesthetics, and put visitor and pedestrian safety at the forefront. With the assistance of the city and citizens of Rehoboth Beach, EDiS Company and Whiting Turner Contracting, we were able to accomplish that. We are profoundly grateful to see this project recognized for its impact,” said Michael R. Wigley, AIA, LEED AP, DBF president, and principal architect for the project.

Davis, Bowen & Friedel Inc. provided architecture, master planning, civil engineering, surveying, and landscape architecture services for this project. Chris Cullen, AIA, and Carlos Moreno, Assoc. AIA, were key contributors providing architecture services, with Cullen serving as project manager. Andrew Welch, P.E., served as lead structural engineer, and Tim Metzner, PLA, LEED AP ND, headed the team's civil engineering and landscape architecture teams. Eric Tolley, PLS, oversaw surveying.