More than 8 million people visit Niagara Falls State Park in New York annually. The park, designed by Frederick Law Omsted, is the oldest state park in the U.S. And yesterday, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation broke ground on a $46 million 28,948-sf Welcome Center for Niagara Falls State Park, which is scheduled for completion in Spring 2023.
âNiagara Falls is a wonder of the world unique to Western New York and its awe-inspiring beauty has been preserved with Niagara Falls State Park,â said New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul, in her Oct. 15 announcement about the Center.
The new building will replace a 35-year-old, much smaller existing facility. The Welcome Center, nestled into a sloped site that offers views to the head of the falls, will include visitor orientation, lobby, interactive exhibits, gift shop, dining, and outdoor terraces and overlook. The Center will comprise new ticketing and information desks, concession spaces, an interpretive museum space, and restrooms.
SUSTAINABILITY IS INTEGRAL TO THE DESIGN
The Centerâs glass façade will connect visitors to the falls. And the buildingâs natural materialsâlimestone sourced from the Niagara escarpment, wood ceilings, and green roof elementsâreflect the buildingâs surroundings and industrial history. (The park was established in 1885.)
Most of the new buildingâs footprint will be on the same location as the existing building, to minimize the environmental impact of the site. Indeed, sustainability played an integral role in GWWO Architectsâ design of the Welcome Center. The buildingâs topography reduces heating and cooling demands; low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water usage; the Niagara River will provide water to irrigate the Welcome Centerâs planting, supplemented by water-capturing cisterns.
The building will include roof-mounted solar panels, LED light fixtures, highly insulated walls and roofing, and energy efficient glazing. Its systems are all-electric to reduce carbon emissions in line with the stateâs climate goals.
![The new Welcome Center will feature landscaping irrigated by the Niagara River.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Niagara%20Falls%20Welcome%20Center%202.png)
Â
CULMINATION OF MULTI-YEAR REVITALIZATION
GWWO specializes in the design of these kinds of buildings. One of its recent projects was the new Summit Visitors Center for Pikeâs Peak in Colorado. Alan Reed, GWWOâs Design Principal, hopes the Niagara Falls State Park project will create âan immersive architectural and educational experience.â GWWO worked with Haley Sharpe Design (the projectâs interpretive designers), as well as local historians, residents, and indigenous communities to bring forth an experience that gives visitors a better understanding of the past, present, and future.
Other Building Team members on this project include Buffalo-based RP Oak Hill Building Company (GC) and The LiRo Group (CM and ownerâs rep). The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundationânamed after the founding owner of the Buffalo Bills NFL franchiseâcontributed an $8 million grant toward the funding of the Welcome Centerâs construction, which represents the completion of the $150 million Niagara Falls State Park landscape revitalization that began in 2011.
Â
Related Stories
Cultural Facilities | Jun 19, 2020
A new ULI report chronicles the depaving of America
Fifteen examples of how parks and green spaces emerged from parking lots, garages, and underpasses.
Libraries | Jan 23, 2020
Information or community center: The next generation of libraries must be both
Are libraries still relevant in a digital world?
Cultural Facilities | Dec 4, 2019
SnĂžhetta wins competition to design maritime center in Esbjerg, Denmark
The projectâs design was developed with WERK Arkitekter.
Cultural Facilities | Dec 1, 2019
Small-venue theaters play starring cultural and economic roles in New York Cityâs economy
A new study identifies the challenges these theaters face, and offers possible solutions that include more city support.
Cultural Facilities | Nov 11, 2019
âThe Whaleâ will be an arctic attraction 185 miles north of the Arctic Circle
Dorte Mandrup won an international competition to design the project.
Cultural Facilities | Nov 1, 2019
Coldefy & AssociĂ©sâ design selected for Pulse nightclub shooting memorial
The design was selected from 68 entries.
Cultural Facilities | Oct 29, 2019
A watchtower in Harlem, once a firefighterâs lookout, is restored as a landmark
The nearly $8 million project required major structural interventions.
Giants 400 | Oct 3, 2019
Top 65 Cultural Sector Construction Firms for 2019
Whiting-Turner, Turner, PCL, Clark Group, and Gilbane top the rankings of the nation's largest cultural facility sector contractors and construction management firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Oct 3, 2019
Top 70 Cultural Sector Engineering Firms for 2019
Jacobs, Arup, EXP, BRPH, and Thornton Tomasetti head the rankings of the nation's largest cultural facility sector engineering and engineering architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Oct 3, 2019
Top 110 Cultural Sector Architecture Firms for 2019
Gensler, Populous, DLR Group, Stantec, and Perkins and Will top the rankings of the nation's largest cultural facility sector architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.