Bath house Makeover, Beach Edition

The long-anticipated Blair Pavilion, adjacent to Johnnie Mercers Pier, opened July 2 with only a slight delay in construction time due to COVID-19.

For five months, Bowman Murray Hemingway Architects and Chambliss & Rabil Contractors worked to establish a beautiful, new gateway that welcomes visitors into Wrightsville Beach from the parking lot at the end of Salisbury Street.

The new bath house features a shaded entrance area flanked by two bathrooms, with an adjacent changing room. Two showers were installed on the ocean side of each wing, making a total of four showers available. Translucent windows allow diffused, natural light to accent the airy and open feeling.

The interior floors are aqua, reflecting the color of the ocean, while the overall angle of the building allows an open view from north and south on the beach side. The unit features an overarching, curved pergola entrance, emblazoned with the town logo, matching the rest of the town’s public services buildings’ color and aesthetic.

Architect Chip Hemingway was inspired by Wrightsville’s reputation as one of North Carolina’s most beautiful beaches with the cleanest water and wanted the building to pay tribute to its legacy while also complementing the iconic lifeguard stands.

“Hopefully, it’s a great and pleasant public facility that reflects Wrightsville Beach’s status as a premier destination,” he says.