DOGWOOD CANYON AUDUBON CENTER

CEDAR HILL, TEXAS | COMPLETED IN 2012

5,600 SQFT (INTERIOR) | 3,400 SQFT (EXTERIOR DECK)

The 5,600 sqft Audubon Visitor Center is located on an abandoned transmission satellite facility site. Its purpose is to act as a portal to a 200 acre nature preserve which is Dogwood Canyon, a rare and untouched environment that is home to two endangered species of birds and many near-extinct plants. Located 20 minutes from downtown Dallas and 15 minutes from 24 surrounding schools, the building is a teaching facility meant to bring children and families closer to nature. The building and associated sitework have been designed to have no impact on the existing forest and to serve as an example of sustainable and sensitive design. This was confirmed with a recent LEED Gold certification.

The building is carefully nestled between the existing satellite dish basin and the forest edge. The basin is kept intact and serves as a gathering space for educational groups. The building floats above the ground plane on structural piers to have minimal impact on existing tree root systems and hydrology. The nature viewing area is elevated an additional 5 feet to place the viewer in the tree canopy and in close proximity to an oxbow of a creek. The building and sitework, constructed for 2 million dollars, are straightforward and give priority to framing views and blending into their wondrous natural surroundings.