Project Background

DBVW Architects was hired by the City of Newport in early 2021 to evaluate the structural integrity of the Carousel, Snack Bar, and Rotunda buildings at Easton's Beach. During this investigation, DBVW and structural engineering consultant, Yoder + Tidwell, determined that the Carousel and Snack Bar buildings were in poor condition and were experiencing failure and significant deterioration of some of the structural members.

Immediate emergency repairs were undertaken in 2021, however the question of whether or not to substantially upgrade these buildings became part of a larger discussion about climate resiliency at Easton's Beach because executing the required repairs would have been extremely costly and invasive. A decision was subsequently made to demolish most of the carousel and snack bar buildings as well as the adjacent elevated walkways.

Following the completion of the Evaluation of Existing Conditions report, DBVW Architects and Fuss & O'Neill were engaged by the City of Newport to complete a planning study that focused on preserving the Rotunda and replacing the Carousel and Snack Bar Buildings with new facilities to accommodate all the functions that were housed in the buildings that were to be demolished.

The conceptual design for a new facility that was developed by DBVW Architects in 2022 was specifically intended to replace the existing buildings. The proposed facility was designed to be resilient; however, a series of subsequent storms prompted the City of Newport to reconsider whether renovating the rotunda and/or constructing new buildings is the best way to proceed at this extremely vulnerable site.