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Washington College Boathouse Wins AIA Chesapeake Bay Honor Award

Boathouse praised for creating a student destination on the Chester River.

Washington College Hodson Boathouse Exterior 1

The Hodson Boathouse at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, has won an Honor Award in the annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chesapeake Bay Chapter Excellence in Design Awards Program.

Designed by HGA to support the varsity rowing and sailing teams, Hodson Boathouse serves as a Front Porch for the College’s growing waterfront campus that includes the existing Truslow Boathouse, the multi-purpose Lelia Hynson Pavilion, and planned future educational amenities along the Chester River.

“The boathouse is part of a campus vision to create an educational and recreational destination along the river for the entire college community,” said d’Andre Willis, Principal at HGA. “This award recongizes our shared success in expanding the campus vision and enhancing the student experience.”

The 9,200-square-foot boathouse includes a multipurpose space with roll-up glass doors opening to the river; a 35-seat team classroom; men’s and women’s locker rooms; cardio workout room with rowing machines; an indoor 16-station sweep rowing tank; offices for coaches and waterfront staff; and a wraparound front porch.

The boathouse also supports the College’s commitment to environmental stewardship, with an energy-efficient geothermal well system for heating and cooling, LED lighting, rain gardens, and recycled plastic decking.

“Loved the breezeway/pass-through and the way the entire building seems to open up and flow out onto the site using porch/decks with wide stairs,” noted the awards jurors, who additionally praised the boathouse’s environmental approach to the site.

The AIA Chesapeake Bay Chapter Design Awards recognize outstanding architecture throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

Pictured (L to R): Michael Schwartz (HGA), Ben Armiger (Washington College Waterfront Director), Larry Oleniak (HGA), d’Andre Willis (HGA).