Projects: Arts and Culture
Tyrrell Field Station and Visitor Centre
Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, LEED® Gold Certified
Deep in the wind-scraped “badlands” of Alberta lies the most extensive dinosaur fossil bed in Canada. Designed in association with DesignWorks Architecture, and funded largely through Alberta Community Development Parks and Protected Services, the Tyrrell Field Station Visitor Centre showcases some of the 40 species uncovered within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A key focus of the project was to double the size of the existing building while minimizing site disturbance to the unique landscape. The expansion includes welcome shade structures in the high summer temperatures and a dark sky lighting strategy which minimizes disturbance to nocturnal wildlife.
An adjacent parking lot was replaced by gardens featuring native park species. As flash floods are an occasional characteristic of the area, the garden design increases site perviousness and incorporates landscape structures that act as water channels. Sixty per cent of materials used were regional and included recycled, rapidly renewable, and low emitting products.
Excess materials from demolition were directed to local high school construction programs. Plumbing upgrades recognized regional water scarcity and, despite a sweltering summer climate, air conditioning was avoided by working with natural ambient site conditions, influencing an energy cost saving of 41%.
Other Arts and Culture Projects:
