Chavis Park Carousel

Location

Raleigh, NC

Date Completed

2013

Square Footage

1,500 SF

Service Provided

Architecture

In 1937, the City of Raleigh purchased the ca. 1923 Allan Herschell carousel and installed it in a tent at Chavis Park. Later, a permanent carousel house was constructed, followed by a 1982 restoration of the carousel machine. A decision was made in 2013 to relocate the carousel to a new building that would provide both a more appropriate environment for the protection of the machine and the riders.

In keeping with the Chavis Park machine’s origins as a traveling carousel, HagerSmith produced a design that evokes the feel and appearance of a carnival tent. The multi-sided building has large areas of high-performance glass and a roof that sports a translucent insulated panel dome.

Overhanging eaves of the structural steel frame are supported by “tent” poles terminating in finials decorated with flying pennants.  The aluminum composite bowtie panels that emulate stretched canvas have a prismatic finish that changes color with the viewing angle and lighting.

Your Ideas, Our Expertise, Personalized Design

Our design process begins and ends with your vision in mind. We aim to be a part of your team and someone you want to work with every day. We empower and inform you throughout the process, working alongside you to customize every detail.