A Commercial Design Citation of Merit is given for the restoration of Jackson Lake Lodge, located within Grand Teton National Park. The Lodge was designed for John D. Rockefeller, Jr. who intended it to be a “pilot project” for the introduction of the Post-war Modern aesthetic into the National Parks. Upon completion in 1955, architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood’s visionary design changed public perceptions on appropriate settings for Modern architecture. Ultimately, it became the precursor for the Mission 66 building program. By 2020, the lodge was showing the effects of climate extremes. Additions and renovations had also altered some of the historic characteristics. The façade, composed of a distinctive textured concrete finish known as “Shadowood,” was meticulously restored, matching original forms and finish texture. Due to the characteristics of aged concrete, the original acid stain could not be recreated. Building upon research by University of Pennsylvania graduate students and professors, a successful three-coat silicate glaze process was developed to replicate the concrete’s original appearance. To maintain uniformity, two painters applied the entire 75,000 square feet of finish. A roof replacement and recoating of the promenade deck over the porte cochere were also included in the project. The team overcame many challenges, including a remote location, difficult and often uncooperative climate, and a requirement that the lodge remain open throughout the restoration. Jackson Lake Lodge can now be appreciated as originally intended by its over three million annual visitors. 

Grand Teton Lodge Company (Alex Klein, Vice President & General Manager; Lori Spano, Capital Projects Asset Manager; Thomas Gill Beck, Director of Operations)

Owner: National Park Service (Kate Birmingham, Branch Chief of Cultural Resources; Daniel Holmberg, Project Manager)

Architect: HPZS (April Hughes, Principal in Charge; Henry Zimoch, Project Manager; Andrea Sforza, Project Architect; Caryssa Buchholz, Associate Architect); Engineer: Nelson Engineering (Ryan Simmons, Project Engineer; Canyon Huber, Engineering Technician); Painting Consultant: Beeck Mineral Paints (Tom Tipps, Product Specialist); General Contractor: Bulley & Andrews Concrete Restoration (Don Redar, Vice President; Tim Redar, General Superintendent; James Masterfield, Assistant Project Manager; Reyes Rodriguez, Project Foreman)