Hodgdon Powder facility
New administrative spaces were created for this central Kansas industrial facility using pre-engineered Quonset hut structures. This unique form offers dramatic interior volumes and adjacent exterior courtyard spaces consistent with its regional vernacular.
Rather than adding additional visual clutter to these simple interior volumes the centrally located ductwork is utilized as infrastructure to support lighting. As a result, the vaulted ceiling is accented while providing diffuse illumination for diverse programmatic tasks. Luminaires are carefully positioned to assure even distribution across the vaulted ceiling while minimizing shadow lines on adjacent walls and concealing luminaires from normal viewing angles. This systematic strategy adapts effectively and economically to most centrally located open plan areas within the huts. In a few contained perimeter areas such as private offices, conference rooms, corridors and restrooms where the effectiveness of this centralized solution is prohibitive, common strip fixtures equipped with custom translucent acrylic diffusers are surface mounted to walls. In this rare moment where the luminaire is visibly present, the simple elegance of the strip light in conjunction with a modestly formed custom diffuser is celebrated and works congruently with the utilitarian essence of the Quonset hut.
Externally, a canopy provides covered connection between the three huts. Concealed coves are integrally designed to the canopy providing diffuse indirect illumination for this circulation and gathering area. Low voltage stake mounted fixtures provide low level illumination between huts, augmenting regions where the borrowed light from interior spaces falls off.
Owner: Hodgdon Power Company
Architect: El Dorado
Lighting Designer: Derek Porter Studio
MEP Engineer: Lankford Fendler + Associates
Photographer: Mike Sinclair
Details
Herington, Kansas
8,000 square feet
New construction
Awards
Edwin F. Guth International Award of Excellence, IESNA, 2008
Commendable Achievement, A/L Magazines, 2008
KC Home Design Design Excellence Awards, Bronze, Contemporary Architecture, 2008
AIA Kansas City Design Excellence Awards, Citation Award, 2008
AIA Central States Region Design Awards, Citation Award, 2009
Publications
Curbed, Sam Lubell, “For El Dorado Architects, Modern Design Starts with Old-fashioned Craft,” 2018
area, el dorado, “Hodgdon Powder Company,” 2014
ArchDaily, Kelly Minner, “An Office for Hodgdon Powder Company / El Dorado,”2011
Office Interiors, Carles Broto, “Hodgdon Powder Company,” 2010
Work Spaces, Antonio Gimenéz, Conchi Monzonís, “An Office for the Hodgdon Powder Company,” 2009
Review, Heather Mcneill, “Creating Valuable Community Spaces,” 2009
Architectural Record, Russel Fortmeyer, “El dorado Architects Rethink the Quonest Hut to Enliven Simple, New Offices for the Hodgdon Powder Company in Rural Kansas,”2008
Iowa Architects, “2008 Central States Region Awards,” 2009
Architecture Minnesota, Renee Cheng, “A Jury in No Hurry,”2008
Architecture and Detail China, “Hodgdon Office Building, Kansas,”2008
HQ Mgazine, Russel Fortmeyer, “Case Study: Hodgdon Powder,” 2008
Kansas City Star, Steve Paul, “An Architectural Style Built for the Plains,” 2008
Space Korea, “Office for Hodgdon Powder Company,” 2008
KC Home Design, Eryn Swanson, “Lifetime Achievement,” 2008
