Camp Mihaska hosts a 10-week summer camp for young people and year-round sessions for senior citizens and families of Salvation Army members. To expand opportunities to host conferences and meetings, Christner designed the new dining lodge after national park lodges. We used generous windows punctuated by massive stone piers to bring abundant light into the interior. A two-sided stone fireplace dominates the space and separates the dining area from the flexible meeting areas. Our design used sustainably harvested materials, including naturally-felled Douglas Fur trees.
Size: 11,000 sf
Status: Completed 2001
Awards: 2002 Masonry Institute of St. Louis, Distinction in Design Award
Christner's design recalls the grandeur of national park lodges. We nestled the building into the rustic surroundings and overlooking a small lake. It is the first thing one sees upon approaching the camp and makes a powerful first impression.
We designed the lodge with two distinct zones. The large capacity dining area and the smaller group meeting area are separated by the massive two-sided stone fireplace.
With sustainability an identified priority, Christner utilized naturally-felled Douglas fir tree-trunks as roof supports and wall and ceiling finish. This in tandem with large clerestory windows literally brings the outdoors inside, reinforcing the connections between the lodge and its natural surroundings.
Christner's design of the complex wooden structural system was successfully implemented thanks to a successful partnership with the on-site craftsmen.
