Markets  >  Hospitality  >  Niagara Reservation State Park Visitor Center

Niagara Reservation State Park Visitor Center

HHL Architects redesigned this 20 year old visitor center facility, located at Prospect Point, in the National Historic Landmark, Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Niagara Reservation State Park, in Niagara Falls, NY. The ground floor level of the facility was completely re-planned to include a new souvenir gift shop, a new coffee & ice cream stand, a new indoor and outdoor grille counter, and new entry. The design removed a central stair in order to create a primary exterior entry directly from the park. Two new stairs are added inside to bring visitors down into the building near the gift shop and theater.

The design reinforced an existing floor pattern, which resembled the Niagara River Gorge, by creating a matching soffit containing a concealed changing color fiber-optic light trough that effectively leads visitors through the building. The new retail space is separated from the theater queuing and the lobby with a transparent curved glass wall. A custom mosaic mural of the American Falls, has been designed to be the focal point for the store, as well as the new entry lobby.