NEWS

By Jeff Cull | on October 18, 2017

BY EVAN WILLIAMS
ewilliams@babcockranchtelegraph.com

The Lakehouse at Babcock Ranch is a neighborhood clubhouse that is set to open in November. PHOTOS BY VANDY MAJOR / BABCOCK RANCH TELEGRAPH

When it opens near the beginning of November, The Lakehouse at Babcock Ranch will be a neighborhood clubhouse and gathering place for the town’s residents that can accommodate everything from weekend pool parties to shooting pool after school.

Perched on the edge of Lake Timber, it’s the first building you see when driving over the bridge into town, with architecture typical of Babcock developments in that it blends old-fashioned, rustic charm with modern, green-building techniques.

“We wanted to make sure that building grabbed people’s attention and created a foundation for what people are going to see as they enter into the community,” said Tyler Kitson, project manager for Kitson & Partners.

Residents will have access anytime by reserving the space or, if it’s not being used, with a key card.

The 2,400-square foot building was inspired by the historic Cypress Lodge on the Babcock Reserve bordering the town. Its features include a wide-open floor plan full of windows and light. It was constructed with 24 by 24-inch beams that soar under 25-foot ceilings and are held together with walnut pegs.

“You walk in that building, you can smell the wood, and it’s absolutely beautiful,” Mr. Kitson said.

On the west side of the building, a two-sided stone fireplace that overlooks the lake rises from floor to ceiling.

Near the front entrance, visitors will find a kitchenette, a game room with a billiard table, and two 55-inch flatscreen televisions. Outside, residents have access to a 2,200-square foot, zero-entry pool, along with a bathhouse. A lawn with shade trees meanders down to a 2,000-square-foot lakefront deck. There’s also a playground for after-school kids. Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, and tables with umbrellas will offer visitors a place to kick back and relax.

The wilderness-chic style of the building’s stone and exposed-beam materials pays homage to a bygone era, but it’s also one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the community. That’s in large part due to the walls made of SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels).

“It’s actually structurally stronger than masonry and more energy-efficient,” Mr. Kitson said. “We’re trying to show people there are new and efficient ways of developing and building these buildings to help reduce our carbon footprint.”

It’s the same process used to construct the Cottage Collection homes Fox Premier Builders is building within the Lake Timber neighborhood of Babcock, where the Lake House is the focal point. Developed by New Panel Homes in Englewood, SIPs are a high performance, 21st Century building system that can be fabricated to fit nearly any building design. The panels consist of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two layers of plywood. The method of construction acts as a thermal blanket, compacting all the insulation within the walls so that everything inside is usable, conditioned space. The process also saves time, money and labor.