Designed as a corporate training and service facility that hosts an internationally recognized company, the Lititz Watch Technicum is truly a showpiece of creativity and ingenuity. In 1998, planning began for the Lititz Watch Technicum. Some of the reasons Lititz, Pennsylvania was selected as the location for the project are the strong connection to the Borough, the small town- or village-feel of the Borough of Lititz, and the history of watch-making in the area. Early in the process, architects and site designers entered into a design competition to present concepts for the new site. The design team of Derck & Edson Associates (landscape architects, civil engineers, and land planners) and Ken Hammel Architects developed design concepts based on the agricultural feel of the outlying areas, tying together and transitioning to the more developed area of the town of Lititz. The goal was to keep the site and building design elegant, simple, and subdued. This design team was selected, then the addition of Harwood Pacific, general contractors, and Michael Graves Architects, was made to fill out the entire team for the project. The design and site selection were strongly influenced by three factors: the nature of the work to be performed on site - watch-making; the agricultural history of the area; and the existing look and feel of the existing community that features an historic rural character where stone barns and fences dot the landscape. The site and the architecture are ?EUR??,,????'??married?EUR??,,????'?? by the use of the stone on the building, a requirement of the client, that is then carried throughout the site as stone is manifested in most every landscape feature including stone retaining walls, paving, waterfalls, and fountains. The architectural design motif of twin barns was designed and developed in collaboration with Michael Graves Architects and Ken Hammel & Associates. Combining this with the image the client wished to portray - one of cutting edge design and craftsmanship - resulted in the fresh contemporary flavor of the completed project. Again, the use of hardscape elements enabled the design team to achieve the required results, using traditional forms and materials, and reinterpreting them for this 21st century facility. Site availability in Lititz was a challenge that was later turned into an opportunity and had a definite impact on later site development. In time, the specific site for the project, on the very northern edge of the borough, allowed the building and surrounding property to act as a gateway to those traveling into the Borough from the north. The location of the Watch Technicum sits on a very tight site. The hardscape elements allowed the designers to accommodate a growing program - on the same tight site - while supporting the original goals; providing elements of elegance, durability, and craftsmanship. Without the separation provided by the walls, it would have been difficult to achieve the entire program on this site. The walls also help to anchor the building to the site. The ultimate plan for the site came together and included: ?EUR??,,????'???? The use of stone walls to create a backbone or framework on the site, tying the building to the site and creating and edge along the street. ?EUR??,,????'???? Creating interesting, separate spaces including the water pool, the fountain, the dining terrace, and the perennial gardens. ?EUR??,,????'???? Using elements already evident in the Lititz community to tie the new project to the existing community. The two main elements were stone and water, prominent in the downtown area of the borough as well as the Lititz Springs Park. In addition, the incorporation of water features provided a secondary function - a sound barrier between the road with its accompanying road noise and the building and outdoor spaces. ?EUR??,,????'???? Parking accomm-odations in the rear, surrounded by stone walls and softened with landscaping. Instead of approaching the parking area as a mere functional space, time and attention were spent to incorporate the parking area into the overall site design. Hardscape elements including Belgian block curbing and landscape elements were used to soften and enhance this area. ?EUR??,,????'???? A refuse building, disguised as a small outbuilding. This small utility/maintenance building was situated to look like a spring house overlooking the pond, complete with climbing, flowering vines on the attached trellis structure. A final program element was the elaborate garden areas that where specified to provide respite for the workers and students in the watch facility. All natural materials were used as much as possible on site. These materials were selected from the local area, including the Pennsylvania Blue Stone pavers for use on the dining terrace and walkways, the wall stone selected from a local quarry, and native plant materials. In order to give the completed project the look of immediate, yet youthful maturity, upsized planting materials were used and installed from the outset. These larger plant materials also helped to pull the building into scale and gave the site an added element of appeal, from the initial days of final construction. Also of interest, was the emphasis placed on planting design and selection of plant material that provided seasonal interest and included: ?EUR??,,????'???? 10?EUR??,,????'?? caliper Beech tree at the pond. ?EUR??,,????'???? 7?EUR??,,????'?? caliper Zelkovas that sit close to the main entrance. ?EUR??,,????'???? 4?EUR??,,????'?? caliper Honey Locusts on the dining terrace. ?EUR??,,????'???? More than 50,000 bulbs planted throughout the site. Native plantings were also used as a buffer on the west and south property lines to screen adjacent neighborhoods and were designed to look like a traditional farm hedgerow. The plant materials can be viewed best from the dining terrace that provides an overlook to the gardens. The nearby fountains disguise the noise of the traffic with more soothing sounds of the water. The tree canopy provides an enclosure to the dining terrace area and also provides shade. The lighting on the site was introduced to wash the stone walls and provide intriguing shadows. Additional down-lighting or moon-scaping was added for extra interest at night. Like the watches that are being assembled and repaired inside the facility - beautiful on the outside, but also intricately designed, functional time pieces on the inside - design and functionality merge on-site through underground storm water. The underground storm water detention is incorporated with the system of above ground water features. Although you might expect that the pond was installed with a dual purpose, the pond is merely for aesthetic appeal; storm water detention is handled completely underground. Overflow from the pond runs into a weir built into the side of the terrace. Underneath the terrace are two inlets that allow the water to flow into the underground detention system comprised of a series of 54?EUR??,,????'?? pipes. Only the weir is visible above ground. Surrounded by a lush perennial garden and the rustic stone walls, the site displays a comfortable and inviting atmosphere rarely seen in a corporate facility. The entire site has become a strong entrance piece to the historic Lititz community. Jane F. Deel, MBA is the Marketing Manager at Derck & Edson Associates, LLP