RIM Architects -- Alaska

PORTFOLIO: PARKS & RECREATION

LEED® - NC (platinum)

Eielson Visitor Center
Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

Interpretive Design: Aldrich Pears
Interior Design: RIM Design

2008 Citation Award
American Institute of Architects, Alaska Chapter

2008 Members’ Choice Awards [Most Alaskan; Liked the Best; Most Original Design]
American Institute of Architects - Alaska Chapter

The Eielson Visitor Center is located 67 miles inside Denali National Park and Preserve, one of the largest parks in the United States. The National Park Service desired that the project become a direct reflection of their mission and aspirations for sustainable development, and intends this project to be a visible demonstration of sustainable principals; this includes a national and international audience.

The design team aspired to create a sustainable, remotely-accessible, off-grid visitor center deep within the park wilderness. In addition to the positive attributes such as various self sufficient energy sources, material reuse, and native materials, no visual impact was to be made on the natural environment.

A scheme of no impact was particularly challenging, though completely appropriate for delivering an effective hierarchy of “wilderness first." Several schemes were explored, ultimately resulting in an earth-sheltered building with a spectacular panorama of the Alaska Range. The design process, through the use of working models, revisited first principals in understanding the specifics of sunlight and latitudes. In turn, successfully integrated skylights and ventilation portholes became a major working component of the project.

All power is generated on-site, either through an array of photovoltaic panels (integrated into the facia system), or a micro-hydroelectric generation system.

Access to the site is restricted to mass-transit visitor buses.

Water is collected and disposed of on-site, being carefully directed to water-saving fixtures with limited treatment.

In addition to new building construction, the designers tackled issues related to demolition / reuse of the existing facility, and of the impacts to the construction contractor. This facility is situated 100 miles from the nearest landfill with much of that travel occurring through a wilderness corridor. Reuse of construction materials was an important aspect to limiting disturbance to both landfills and to the natural setting.

The end result is a stunning collaboration between architecture and engineering, experienced mostly from the interior. Some facilities shout their message; the intent of this facility is to quietly articulate an important message within a context that allows that quiet delivery to be absorbed in a meaningful manner to a diverse collection of individuals.

The U.S. Green Building Council advises that this project will achieve a LEED Platinum rating, the first National Park Service project in the country to receive the required credits for the highest level of certification.

<< Back to Sustainability

photo slideshow >>

Project Details
8,500 sq ft
Completion: June 2008
Client: National Park Service
General Contractor: Dawson Construction

info@rimarchitects.com | << back to home