DARTMOUTH COLLEGE SAILING FACILITY

This project was designed by Maclay Architects staff, who are now VIA employees. Construction was completed following their transition to VIA. We celebrate their work then and now!

Set into the hillside on the shores of Lake Mascoma, the Dartmouth College Sailing Facility provides an attractive boat house with all of the amenities as well as a boat barn for boat storage. The facility serves the varsity sailing team, spectators, and the community boating club.

The boat house, designed with a code compliant building envelope for thermal comfort and energy efficiency, includes two varsity locker rooms, a team room, a coaches’ office, and changing rooms for visiting teams and the community boating program. The Viewing Room and connected deck allow spectators a space to gather and watch the races with spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The building blends in with the surroundings, making its scale less intrusive from the water.  This siting is in striking contrast to the dramatic views from the building out towards the lake.

The new sailing center replaced the team’s previous facility that had been built by student-athletes in the 1950s. With this new facility, the Dartmouth sailing team can recruit competitively with their peer institutions.

The boat barn was designed and sized specifically to house the team’s fleet of boats, ready for sail with masts up and sails on. By providing space for fully rigged boats, the team saves time at the beginning and end of each practice, allowing more time on the water – a high priority for any team with an off-site facility.

The college began using the facility for the fall 2024 season and hosts 2-3 regattas onsite each year.