S H O R T S H O R T S • •
BATH HOUSE MAKEOVER, BEACH EDITION
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH’S NEW BLAIR PAVILION By Peter Viele
THE long-anticipated Blair Pavilion, adjacent to Johnnie Mercers Pier, opened July 2 with only a slight delay in construction
ALLISON POTTER
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.
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The new Blair Pavilion, designed by Bowman Murray Hemingway Architects, offers upgraded restroom and shower facilities to
visitors at the East Salisbury Street beach access in Wrightsville Beach.
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CHIP HEMINGWAY
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