Project Overview
This $19,800,000 design-build project consists of a total of 7 buildings including a new visitor center and administrative building with associated maintenance, bunkhouse, and volunteer buildings. The project aesthetics were derived from local, Texas and coastal designs and focus on the visitor experience. As the main focus of the project, the visitor center and administrative buildings acts as the main hub for all park staff and visitors. This building is defined by the main entry and views to the refuge, focused on it’s seasonal bird migration routes and native vegetation. Park visitors enter through a central corridor which opens with a direct view to bay, supported with heavy timber beams supported with thick concrete walls. The building structure is uniquely designed utilizing pre-cast construction, creating a ultra-durable façade against the harsh coastal environment. Each precast panel is inlaid with form liner to give the appearance of natural wood and stone veneer. Other buildings on site mimic the design of the visitor center, drawings from it’s durability, natural light and comfortable interiors. A bunk house and volunteer building were developed to support revolving groups of volunteers living on site and supporting the refugees’ causes. The buildings were designed with similar aesthetics but offer more comfortable and quiet amenities to their patrons, including bedrooms, lounge areas, a kitchen and gym. Other support facilities include a maintenance yard, fire cache and hunters check-in which were all designed with ultimate durability and functionality in mind. The entire project was designed to achieve LEED Silver certification and included solar farm for energy usage and rain water harvesting for water usage throughout the main buildings.
Related Projects
