New lodge for the Kostopulos Dream Foundation: Emigration Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah
Creators: name: Pierson, Marty
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Disabled people
Access
Recreation

description: People with disabilities in our society are taking significant  strides in being recognized for their abilities instead of their limitations.  There has been a dramatic paradigm shift over the last  20 years that has allowed those with disabilities to gain access to  all aspects of our built environment and social venues due to the  Americans with Disabilities Act. However, with cities and towns  being more accessible there has been less progress in leisure  and recreational experiences. There are many programs including  government and non-profit agencies that provide social and  civic interaction focused on urban activities and interacting with  the public, rather than nature based recreation. "Just as persons  without disabilities have the right to engage in preferred leisuretime  activities during their free time, persons with disabilities  must be guaranteed the same right." (Schleien 6) The focus of  leisure and recreation is the interaction with nature and having  experiences that are outside of the typical urban environment.  These experiences impact an individual very deeply regardless  of their social status or abilities. By having direct experiences  with nature people with disabilities strengthen themselves  physically, mentally and spiritually and improve their quality  of life. Through experiences in nature people with disabilities  find a source of healing, rehabilitation and excitement for life.  Recreational opportunities for people with disabilities  are available in Utah and are facilitated by many organizations.  The Kostopulos Dream Foundation, or Camp Kostopulos,  is a facility located up Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake  City that has specialized week long summer camps and year  round programs for people with disabilities. Camp Kostopulos  has been in operation since 1967 and serves people of all  ages and all disabilities. The programs have long outgrown the  capacity of their increasingly outdated facilities. The solution  to keeping these unique programs available to the disabled  population is a new lodge for Camp Kostopulos. This allows  the current disabled population to be served at the existing site  which has convenient access to the city and is located in a  wilderness area appropriate for this purpose. The current facility  includes administrative, socializing and dining areas. The  new facility would house the existing program, expand them  and add educational classrooms, a large indoor gymnasium/  performing space, housing and other programmatic needs.  The inspiration for this design begins with nature. Dan Kostopulos,  whom the organization is named after, proclaimed that he  wanted to build the camp so disabled children could, "see the  sun shine and the stars twinkle." (Carlstrom 198) "Just like kids  without disabilities, these kids loved getting out with friends,  touching and seeing the flowers, trees, animals, and bugs…  They loved Camping!" (Carlstrom 198) The essence of the design  process will capture this vision and excitement for nature  and desire to experience life to the fullest. The exploration of  large and small interactions with nature through direct contact,  views and other methods will bring focus to the design of the  new Lodge. The architectural use of transparency to blur the  lines from the natural and built environment will be employed  throughout the project. This will further support the conceptual  goals of Camp Kostopulos as they try to remove barriers and  help people with disabilities feel that they are capable of success  in life and able to capitalize on their abilities. This enables  their disabilities to become transparent to themselves and others  as they achieve new successes. The concept of sustainable  design will also be another focus and be a guiding principle  throughout the design process. This is meant to be a further  connection to nature and give examples through the building of  how to effectively use our natural resources to our advantage.  The design process would include evaluation of the existing  conditions and where improvements need to be made. This  would include choosing a location on the site, investigating programmatic  needs, and studying conceptually how the architecture  of this facility would speak to and about the population it is  serving and also how nature impacts their lives. A survey of other  similar facilities would also be incorporated to see where their  success or failures were and learn from them. An in depth look  at adapting recreation for people with disabilities will also be explored  as well as ways to architecturally express the critical circulation  patterns that will develop inside and outside the building.  The overall location would remain the same because of  the vital activities currently located on the property which include  a ropes course, swimming, hiking and many others. The  new facility would enhance their capacity to provide opportunities  for the disabled to get out of the city and experience  nature in ways that are typically not available to them. The location  in the wilderness, and access to a population center are  the top reasons for using the existing site. The natural setting  with panoramic views, varied topography and natural water  features all contribute to the success of this site. By maintaining  this location it will allow participants to continue to experience  success, build self esteem and provide a greater understanding  that they are not the only ones with challenges similar to theirs.  A New lodge facility for Camp Kostopulos fills a great need  for the disabled population in Salt Lake City. It would continue to  serve the mission of building self esteem and a personal awareness  of an individuals abilities. This facility would enhance their  understanding of the world through interactions with nature and  others with disabilities and allow them to learn that challenges can  be conquered and overcome regardless of their circumstances.