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Haleakala Comfort Station
As the number of visitors to Haleakala National Park on Maui grew to over a million a year, the 1953 comfort station and its septic system became too small to meet demands. Mason Architects worked with a team of engineers to design a new comfort station that would serve the needs of visitors yet conserve energy and water at the arid summit of the 10,000-foot crater.
- The existing comfort station was converted to the men's room and a new women's room/storeroom was designed.
- Both were built of lava rock walls and corrugated metal roofing to match the 1935 Visitor Center, which is on the National Register.
- The rooms are naturally lighted during daylight hours and ventilated by 4" slots above windows.
- The new wastewater system, the first of its kind in Hawaii, recycles 85% of the water used to a level pure enough to flush toilets.
- Only water for hand washing and drinking must be trucked into the site.
- An additional water tank, a 3000-square-foot leach field, a filtration and chlorination system, and new utility lines were installed underground.
- The new comfort station is designed to have a minimal effect on the nesting areas of endangered birds and archaeological sites nearby.
- Park visitor entrance fees funded the project, which was located on
land already disturbed by earlier developments.
- The American Society of Civil Engineers, Hawaii Chapter, awarded the
comfort station its Grand Conceptor Award in 2003.
- The American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter, gave its 2004 Sustainability Design Award to MAI for the project.
Photos: MAI |
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A moveable partition divides the women's room; half can be cleaned while the other half stays open.
A ventilation slot above the windows and gated door allows air to pass freely.
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