Raven Rock State Park

Lillington, NC

DATE

2009

CATEGORY

Cultural

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

SCOPE

Architectural Design
Interior Design
Experience Design

AREA

7,400sf

Project Team

Design Firm – LS3P Associates
Project Designer – Peter Provost (Project Completed while a Sr. Designer LS3P Associates)

DESCRIPTION

The new visitor center for Raven Rock State Park serves as the key element in a twenty-five acre site improvement initiative by the North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources to engage and connect visitors to the park’s 3,953 acres of natural resources.

The center orients its visitors to an expanded network of trails, picnic shelters and parking facilities as well as educate them with hands-on exhibits, an auditorium and both indoor and outdoor instruction areas. Park staff offices and public restrooms are also accommodated in the new 7,100sf. building. The visitor center has earned USGBC LEED-NC Silver Certification. Sustainable design strategies are integral to the design solution for the new visitor center.

The building footprint is strategically compact to minimize site disturbance and regrading of natural areas. A new advanced storm drainage system will be used to reduce the amount of storm water flow and improve water quality. Daylighting strategies, a geothermal heat pump and solar panels will be employed to reduce energy consumption. A majority of the materials will be either locally sourced or rapidly renewable.