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The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center, U.S Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

Swanson Design was hired by the US Naval Academy Athletic Association to plan and design the gift store within the new complex which includes a mezzanine exhibit center; auditorium for the Academy’s promotional films; restrooms, and an entry vestibule.

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Our design proposed opening up the building’s curved east façade using full-height glass to take advantage of the view on to the Annapolis harbor’s sea and to provide the illusion of being on a ship.

At the main entry, a visitor is greeted by the Naval Academy’s trident insignia emblazoned on a resin-made flag and flagpole, canted at an angle, and centered within a large map of the constellation, laser-cut out of linoleum; the herringbone patterned flooring is light-stained, top-flitch mahogany.

 

The focal merchandise display fixtures radiate according to the curved plan’s center-point and the mahogany plank floor’s geometric layout. The modular aluminum fixtures are superimposed with custom-designed mahogany components. Their superstructure ‘wings’ are constructed out of light-weight balsa wood and veneered with mahogany. Featured cylindrical glass and mahogany ‘Porthole’ vitrines oriented towards the inner perimeter, display special trident insignia products.

Armel Leftwich Navel Academy Visitor Center entrance
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The ceiling height of approximately 25’ impacted the lighting of the merchandise. Due to the distance, space-frame structures were constructed and supported off the perimeter’s glazing mullions with steel cables and turnbuckles. Industrial electrical conduit arms with integral spotlights, were mounted to the frame structures. These provided the necessary lighting levels to highlight the products displayed.

 

The inner perimeter wall, under the curved mezzanine of the exhibit center above, is finished in modular herringbone patterned mahogany panels with etched glass ‘portholes’. “The US Armel-Leftwich Naval Academy” aluminum letters are fixed to the ceiling following the curved radius of the perimeter glass curtain wall.

Armel Leftwich Navel Academy Visitor Center gift store
Armel Leftwich Navel Academy Visitor Center Gift Store
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