NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority, Belleayre Discovery Lodge Modernization

The Discovery Lodge is the primary base lodge for the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center with facilities for guest services, ticketing, rentals, learning programs, retail, food and beverage service, and administrative staff. QPK provided landscape, structural, architectural, and interior design services for completion of this fast-track design/build project in six months.

The Lodge’s interior was a full-building renovation, with the entire lower level reconfigured, in coordination with additions on three sides. The east addition offers a bar and lounge connected to outdoor dining and patio space. Additions to the north and south provide a new main entrance and restrooms. Offices on the mezzanine have natural lighting with views of the lower mountain. Exposed glulam beams, supplemented with wood-clad structural steel, create a modern ski lodge experience.

The exterior facade combines fiber cement siding and locally sourced natural stone veneer installed over insulated composite panels. The panels provide an energy efficient wall assembly with integral weather protection for speed of assembly and consistent quality, all important to the compressed regional construction season and schedule.

Site improvements include a patio with views of the mountain for outdoor dining and reconfiguration of approach paths to the lodge to comply with ADA requirements.