
Camp Kaufmann, Girl Scouts of Greater New York
Camp Kaufmann Dining Hall




Project Information
The new building at Camp Kaufmann, dubbed “Girl HQ,” will provide an inspiring space for urban girls to gather and discover the wonder of the natural environment and explore a wide variety of learning opportunities. The new Hall provides dining and instructional facilities in a bucolic setting for the Girl Scouts of New York City. The building references the surrounding rustic architecture of Camp Kaufmann from a modern perspective. Clean lines and open spaces are complemented by soaring wood arches and warm materials. Expansive views of the wooded environment are framed in every room. Girl HQ will provide a beautiful environment to support urban Girl Scouts while they explore sustainable, inspirational, and educational experiences. Preserving the existing trees, topography and natural features was one of the main goals and were used as sculptural elements to the landscape. The existing site and natural elements are experienced throughout the interior of the space, allowing the viewer to maintain a connection with nature and the outdoor space while experiencing the architecture of the Dining Hall.
The design of the building was based on cues from both the existing rustic cabins at the camp as well as the topography and flora of the site. We researched the architectural style and detailing of the nearby existing cabins as well as historic examples. We incorporated some of the observed design features and materials, interpreting them for a more modern approach and updating them for a twenty-first century user. For example, the wood arches in the entry and dining room are inspired by great camp buildings such as the ones at Asilomar, while the materials and palette were kept simple and understated to reflect the simplicity of camp life and to allow the natural environs to shine. The arches are prefabricated by a local manufacturer and the exterior stone veneer is made from lightweight concrete - both modern versions of traditional materials. The building houses a sophisticated HVAC system to control the interior environment in a conscious way. Technology infrastructure is in place to support the variety of project types explored by the girls in the camp programs. Rustic origins and modern methods come together at Girl HQ.
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New Construction
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13,700 sf
Camp Kaufmann
Dining Hall
Holmes, NY
Honors and Awards
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2024 Outstanding Project, Learning by Design

Site concept



Site concept
Camp Kaufmann Dining Hall Landscape
The Camp Kaufmann site is interesting in that it is composed of largely virgin forest with natural ponds scattered throughout the property. The property is within the watershed for New York City which added a level of complexity to the site design and approvals, requiring special attention to erosion control and septic design. The siting and views were also based on the existing topography and natural features of the site. For example, mature trees are framed in every view and large boulders were incorporated as sculptural elements into the landscape design. A great amount of care was taken to preserve as much of the existing natural environment as possible.