Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center

Cascade, CO

Details: Exhibits, visitor orientation, dining, gift shop; Rooftop terrace with 180 degree unobstructed views; Designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification; Design Architect: GWWO Architects; Managing Firm: RTA Architects

Owner: Pikes Peak America's Mountain

Services: Site Analysis, Fundraising Materials, Community Involvement, Sustainable Design, Interior Design, Full Design Services, Building Information Modeling

Predominantly a one-story form seemingly carved from the southeast side of the peak, the new center offers the same unobstructed views Katharine Lee Bates beheld as she penned America the Beautiful. Reminiscent of the crags and rock formations found above the tree line, the design uses shade, shadow, and fragmentation to coalesce the building into the peak. Viewed from below, the visitor center is one with the mountain, yet as one arrives at the peak, the modest entry pavilion is a clear destination.

Captivating, but also functional, the building is sited to take advantage of the unique environmental conditions. Nestled into the mountain, exposure to the harsh winds is minimized, while the mass of the building provides sheltered outdoor areas to enjoy the views. The southern orientation takes full advantage of the enhanced solar gain at altitude, including daylight harvesting and photovoltaics to generate electricity. The thermal mass of the stone cladding helps capture and radiate heat generated by the sun to the interior.

Sited to frame the view of Mt. Rosa, the location from where Zebulon Pike viewed the peak in 1806, the pavilion’s lobby provides a sheltered area to view the surrounding landscape, while affording access to the main level of the Summit House below. Accentuating the relationship between the two landforms, the 3.5 degree angle from Pikes Peak to Mt. Rosa is reflected in the downward tip of the lobby walls. That same angle is mirrored in the upward slope of the roof acknowledging the expansive views to the east.

Inside, visitors are taken aback by the boundless sky and perfectly framed views of Mt. Rosa. Stairs to the main level appear to fold down out of the mountain as visitors descend to the main floor to access exhibits, dining, a gift shop and restrooms. Warm, rustic colors fortified by the ceiling’s beetle kill pine uniquely tie the interior to the region.

Pursing the Living Building Challenge—the world’s most rigorous and progressive environmentally green performance standard—the facility incorporates many sustainable strategies including a vacuum system for toilets, resulting in 90% less water use; a highly insulated concrete shell with in-floor radiant heating; solar arrays on the roof and near the summit to provide 105% of energy needs on sunny days; building zones that vary in temperature based on the activity taking place; biophilic principles; and the use of building materials that are free of toxic red-list chemicals and materials.