North Mountain Visitor Center / John Douglas Architects

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Text description provided by the architects. What was once merely a trail head parking lot, now serves as a gateway to the vast and rugged North Mountain Park. The North Mountain visitor center by John Douglas Architects educates locals, tourists and youth, on the significance of the mountain preserve and its Sonoran desert ecology. 20,000 visitors have toured the center over the past year and have taken with them a new sense of understanding on the importance of open-space preservation in our bustling metropolis. Prior to beginning design studies, specific research was conducted to ensure that the design of the facility would be responsive to its desert environment. One of the key contributors to the design team’s understanding of the site was a team of geologists from Arizona State University. Their explanation of the hidden forces that shape the terrain, led directly to the form and materials of the Center.