Niagara Falls State Park Welcome Center

Niagara Falls, NY

Details
Indoor and outdoor exhibits, visitor orientation
Gift shop, dining, outdoor terraces and overlook
Community multipurpose space, offices, archive and storage space
Sustainable design features
Owner
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Services
Site Analysis, Fundraising Materials, Community Involvement, Cost Estimating, Sustainable Design, Interior Design, Full Design Services, Construction Administration, Building Information Modeling

More than nine million people travel to Niagara Falls every year to witness 3,160 tons of water flowing over the falls every second.

 

The oldest state park in the United States, Niagara Falls State Park has a vast history encompassing many American stories. Replacing the current outdated and cramped facility, the new welcome center will offer an immersive experience, both inside and out, taking visitors on a journey through time, spanning the eras of geological formation and human impacts on the falls, bringing to life the many voices and perspectives of those experiencing its beauty and grandeur, and highlighting the flora and fauna of the environs.

Placing the awe-inspiring beauty of the Niagara River Gorge and immense power of the falls at the forefront, the center is a quiet form nestled into the landscape. The building frames views to the head of the falls and gracefully transitions visitors between the formal entrance gardens and the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed landscape of the lower grove. Like a giant sheet of water, the expansive glass facade maximizes views and offers continuous connections to the falls throughout the lobby and exhibit areas. Natural materials, including limestone sourced from the Niagara escarpment, wood ceilings, and blackened metal roof and soffit integrate the building with its site and history. 

Credit: Haley Sharpe Design

What Our Clients Say

“We are very excited to be working with GWWO on this very special project. The expertise they bring to the table will go a long way in enhancing a visit to Niagara Falls State Park and though it is hard to capture the power of the Falls in a building, we think that their design perfectly complements the wonder people are coming to experience.”

—Mark V. Mistretta, Western District Director, New York State Parks