Senior Architect Peter Schwab has been instrumental in creating multiuse courts at public recreational sites.
When Murphy & Dittenhafer Senior Architect Peter Schwab was assigned to oversee the painting of pickleball lines at Baltimore County’s recreational facilities, he was taken aback. The veteran architect, who has spent nearly a decade at M&D, was more accustomed to taking on design and renovation projects at such sites as the historic President Street Station in Baltimore or the University of Maryland Cultural Center.
Still, with his characteristic attention to detail, Schwab dove headlong into the project.
“It’s surprisingly trickier than you think,” he says.
In a pickle
The project involved painting pickleball and volleyball lines on existing courts at several Baltimore County recreational facilities. Schwab conducted in-depth research into the products and paint used on the courts and which products would stand up to repeated use and harsh weather. He studied every material, right down to the tape to be used to mark the lines before painting.
In the course of his research, Schwab connected with Mondo Contract Flooring. He worked his way through contacts at the company until he found a local expert who could guide him to the best products and practices for each type of court.
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“It was a matter of digging and digging to get to the right person,” Schwab says.
His diligence paid off. M&D is working on its fourth Baltimore County recreation center and has painted lines for three pickleball courts and two volleyball courts on top of existing basketball courts.
“The courts are busy,” Schwab says. “People love them.”
Opening doors to new opportunities
Schwab compared taking on the project to the way that architectural giant Frank Lloyd Wright approached prospective work, with a willingness to tackle an array of challenges.
“Frank Dittenhafer is willing to do anything and everything as a segue into bigger projects,” Schwab says, referring to the firm’s president.
Already the project has led to additional work for the architects with Baltimore County, and Schwab hopes the relationship continues to grow.
Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects took on the Architecture, Interior Design, & Overall Project Management for the new Bedford Elementary School, and the outcome is impactful.