Brookside Park Carousel Building

Location: Dover, PA
Project Size: 4,500 SF

Project Overview:

Dover Township commissioned SAAarchitects to design a new Carousel Building in Brookside Park. The original building included a carousel with a three-row menagerie, with many animals dating back to the 1890s and before. The structure was the main attraction of Brookside Park for many years.

Due to years of neglect and an insect infestation, the original structure was beyond repair, and the building was condemned. SAA has designed a new building that includes a steel structure, replicating the existing structure almost identically. The use of steel and other materials will increase the energy efficiency of the building and ensure a longer life span.

Maintaining the integrity of the building, SAA designed the new structure to consist of the same proportions. This includes the overall building, window, roof slope, and even custom doors to match the original. The new building serves as a banquet and event facility, with the ability to hold up to 300 occupants. Some of the new features include a catering kitchen, brick patio, and a floor pattern that maintains the spirit of the former carousel.