Having successfully provided designs for several Brookhaven, GA parks, this key metro-Atlanta city engaged CPL again, this time to design a new community center in their iconic Murphey Candler Park.
As the largest park in the City of Brookhaven’s parks system, the 120-acre oasis is a treasured amenity, featuring a serene lake and endless opportunities for public recreation. The idea for a new lake house was envisioned to complement the park’s beauty and serve as a welcoming gathering center for the community to enjoy.
Extensive public outreach with residents and city officials helped confirm the facility’s location on the west bank of the park’s lake—a picturesque site offering stunning views and seamless connections to the park’s trail system.
Although desirable, the site presented significant design challenges including a sewer easement and an old scout hut, which would impede construction. The site was also on a flood plain, which would make the new center at high risk for flooding.
To combat these issues, CPL worked with city officials to relocate the sewer easement to exist outside of the building’s footprint and then removed the scout hut. The building’s design concept was also elevated well above the 100-year flood zone to resolve any flood concerns.
As the conceptual design took shape, the team capitalized on the center’s raised foundation by incorporating a large, cantilevered deck with an extended roof that appears to “float” over the lake. Accessed by floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the deck will yield flexible, year-round use for guests.
Outside the dynamic lake house, CPL proposed a landscaped lawn designed to “disappear” in the tree line, ensuring the preservation of select trees by incorporating gravel at their bases for support. Other desired amenities include open-air pavilions for additional outdoor gatherings, rentable interior rooms with fireplaces, and ample on-site parking. CPL’s preliminary drawings of the center were shared with the community and approved with great excitement. With construction set to begin this coming Spring, the public should expect to enjoy the awe-inspiring venue by the end of 2022.
