department of conservation and recreation
Cabin Renovations
Vansant & Gusler provided P, M & E engineering services for the renovation of historic and non-historic cabins throughout the Virginia State Park system. Originally constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the cabins include 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom buildings. Services supported renovations for guest accommodations across multiple park locations.
Location: Commonwealth of Virginia
Owner: Department of Conservation & Recreation
Type: Renovation
Budget: $11,000,000
Cabin Renovations
Project Info Continued ….
The project scope included complete interior and exterior renovations to the cabins, incorporating larger kitchens, new bathrooms, upgraded electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems, and new architectural finishes. Existing conditions were evaluated by V&G engineers, including fire protection systems, to inform design decisions that improved energy efficiency, increased usable space, enhanced occupant comfort, and extended system longevity.
Plumbing design recommendations included replacement of traditional 40-gallon tank water heaters with on-demand electric water heaters ranging from 13 kW to 18 kW.
Standard-size refrigerators and stoves were specified in lieu of smaller apartment-size appliances originally proposed,
reducing cost and improving usability for guests. All cooking areas were provided with stove exhaust hoods to ensure proper ventilation of fumes to the exterior.
Kitchen renovations required removal of interior kitchen doors, resulting in revised circulation patterns. To accommodate this change, new exterior porch lighting was designed along the side approach used by guests entering the cabins.
Mechanical systems included HVAC units equipped with low-refrigerant safety switches to prevent compressor damage and condensate trap switches to protect against moisture damage caused by overflowing drain pans. Bathroom renovations included upgraded tiled shower finishes and the installation of low-flow, high-pressure shower heads to reduce water consumption while maintaining user comfort.
