The new Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center, to be located off of Interstate 25 at mile marker 4.9 north of the Colorado/Wyoming border, will replace an existing 20-year old facility that is outgrown and difficult to access given its proximity along the western side of the interstate. The project is exploring the relationship of building and landscape to structure a sequence of experiences that occur at various scales – from the drive along I-25 which offers a presentation of the entire site, to the transformation of the site as one enters and transitions to pedestrian.
Mannered landforms and tree lines structure a variety of outdoor environments while acting as shelterbelts against the severe Wyoming winds and snowdrifts. These site features structure the foreground and backdrop for a visually animated building that focuses visitors back out into the immediate and distant landscapes.
The design proposition also includes the development of a substantial wetlands environment that captures Interstate 25 storm water runoff. The wetland will be lined with native Wyoming plant life and serve as an outdoor environmental learning landscape, with trails and site structures promoting visitor interaction with the ecology of Wyoming.
The building also endeavors to create an interactive workplace for the Travel and Tourism employees through the manipulation of natural light, ventilation and floor topography.
As an interactive and interpretive setting, the new Welcome Center will provide visitors with a fresh and progressive introduction to the State of Wyoming.
Architect: Anderson Mason Dale Architects Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA Contractor: Sampson Construction Landscape Architect: Wenk Associates Civil Engineer: Benchmark Engineers, Inc. Structural Engineer: KL&A, Inc. Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: The RMH Group, Inc. Cost Estimating: Rider Levett Bucknall Project Area: 26,500 sqf, 27 Acres
