Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Canyon View Information Plaza & Mather Point

THe place 04-07 THE PROJECT 08-31

CHallenges STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION INTERPRETIVE EDUCATION

THE LANDMARK 32-41 THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 42-69

For thousands of years, people have been shaped by their encounters with the Grand Canyon: now it is our turn. Our work at the Canyon View Information Plaza and Mather Point Overlook was inspired by the majestic views, geological formations, and fragile ecology of the canyon.

INSPIRATION THE PLACE 05

INSPIRATION

We found inspiration in the formation of side canyons and the springs born there. The rich cultural history of the area moves us to protect and embrace the fragile ecological communities where layered desert rock meets lush green growth.

THE PLACE 07

THE PROJECT Create a setting that gracefully hosts millions of annual visitors and allows them to experience a sacred connection to the Grand Canyon.

Provide opportunities to experience and understand the environmental interrelationships, resources and values of the Grand Canyon without impairing the site and surrounding ecology.

THE CHALLENGE

CHALLENGES

Attendance at the park has outgrown existing infrastructure and has begun to have a detrimental impact on the delicate ecology surrounding high traffic areas.

THE PROJECT 11

Built in the 1930’s, the existing 250 car parking lot along the rim quickly became insufficient and also separated visitors from the landscape.

Since that time, the number of parked vehicles along the rim grew to over 600 cars during the peak visitor season. Visitors parked along the road and trudged through the fragile limestone, juniper and pinyon pine ecosystem to reach the canyon rim.

GRAND CANYON VISITOR CENTER & TRANSIT PAVILION

INSUFFICIENT LOT CAPACITY FOR HIGH RATE OF VISITATION

EXISTING CONDITIONS

VEHICULAR ENCROACHMENT UPON CANYON RIM

MATHER POINT OVERLOOK

THE PROJECT 13

Our team relocated parking away from the rim, establishing it near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Transit Pavilion, and the newly reactivated transit hub. Visitors can now ride the shuttle, walk, or cycle to and from the Grand Canyon Village, along the South Rim to multiple trailheads and the Hermit’ s Rest.

ACCESSIBLE TRAIL RESTORATION OF FORMER PARKING LOT AND ROADWAY TOUR BUS PARKING

MATHER POINT OVERLOOK RIM TRAIL LANDMARK FEATURE AMPHITHEATER INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS

SHUTTLE BUS STOP

REALIGNED SOUTH ENTRANCE ROAD

GRAND CANYON VISITOR CENTER RESTROOM VISITOR CENTER PLAZA

RESTROOM SHUTTLE BUS TRANSFER AREA TRANSIT PAVILION BOOKSTORE GREENWAY TRAIL

SOLUTIONS

INTERPRETIVE THEATER

THE PROJECT 15

E V ENI NG P R I M RO S E

B I G S AG E B RUSH

B ROOM SNA KE WEED

PENSTEM O N

GREAT BASIN DESERT SCRUB

CLIFF SWALLOW STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY

STRAIGHT & CONVOLUTED BOUNDARIES

FIELD MOUSE HARD AND SOFT BOUNDARIES

0

40

80

160

GREAT BASIN DESERT SCRUB HABITAT PINYON-JUNIPER HABITAT

PINYON - JUNIPER

A B E RT ’S SQ U I RRE L

G A M BE L OA K

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION Plans for improvements ultimately sought to restore and preserve the natural and cultural resources at Mather Point jeopardized by the lack of appropriate transportation and parking alternatives.

P I NYO N P I N E

P RI C K LY P E A R

JUNIPER

P O N D E RO S A P I N E

RED TAILED HAWK

GREAT BASIN DESERT SCRUB ECOTONE

MULE DEER

Kaibab limestone

PINYON - JUNIPER ECOTONE

Pinyon pines and junipers were boxed for transplant as part of the revegetation efforts.

SOLUTIONS

Park staff harvested thousands of seeds and collected hundreds of native plants to be field grown in flats for restoration at Mather Point.

THE PROJECT 17

5 acres of native pinyon-juniper habitat are restored

SOLUTIONS THE PROJECT 19

SOLUTIONS THE PROJECT 21

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT The additional vehicular and tour bus parking impacts were mitigated through a conscious effort to mimic natural hydrologic processes, reduce the flow of pollutants, and control erosion.

The installation of interpretive signage educates visitors about ways in which sustainable elements were incorporated into the landscape, and how natural processes provide for a healthier environment through stormwater control and improved water quality.

SOLUTIONS

The drainage system treats stormwater in a series of sand filter infiltration systems designed to be both functional and attractive. The natural filtering ability of the soil removes pollutants in stormwater runoff. Check structures were used to flatten the overall slope of the drainage swales in order to dissipate the energy of the flowing water, reducing the potential for erosion and enhancing the riparian vegetation and water quality.

THE PROJECT 23

LEGEND

DRAINAGE AREA 7: 2.70 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 1,500 CF

INFILTRATION SWALE CONVEYANCE SWALE DRAIN PIPE

DRAINAGE AREA 6: 1.57 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 6,500 CF MAX. CAPACITY: 7,875 CF

COLORADO RIVER WATER SHED

DRAINAGE AREA 1: 5.41 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 11,075 CF MAX. CAPACITY: 21,400 CF DRAINAGE AREA 2: 4.04 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 7,250 CF MAX. CAPACITY: 13,100 CF

BRIGHT ANGEL WASH

DRAINAGE AREA 5: 11.45 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 25,000 CF MAX. CAPACITY: 33,000 CF

DRAINAGE AREA 3: 3.70 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 11,000 CF MAX. CAPACITY: 16,150 CF DRAINAGE AREA 4: 4.02 AC WATER QUALITY CAPACITY: 15,500 CF MAX. CAPACITY: 28,000 CF

NATURAL SURFACE FLO W AND DRAINAGE THR OUGH LIMESTONE BEDR OCK SMALL PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE DETENTION OUTLET STRUCTURE WATER QUALITY BASIN SLOTTED STONE CURB

INFILTRATION BASIN WITH LIMESTONE CLAD OUTLE T STRUC TURE

WATER QUALIT Y SWALE ALONG PARKING

SOLUTIONS

PRESERVED VEGETATION STONE HEADWALL WATER QUALITY SWALE SLOTTED STONE CURB

THE PROJECT 25

IN T E R P R E T I V E E DUCATI ON The overarching concept of this landscape is a message of climate change. Opportunities for visitors of all ages to experience the diverse plants and animals associated with the wet and dry habitats of the canyon include dripping rocks for hummingbirds, mud puddles for butterflies, and fossil discovery.

FOSSILS

FENCE LIZARD

WHIP -TAILED LIZARD VEGETATIVE MEDIUM

LIZARDS DRY CLIMATE (WHIP-TAILED & FENCE LIZARD)

EXISTING TREES, TYP.

SHELTER, TYP.

FORMATIONS TO EXPLORE

STEWARDSHIP

IRRIGATION CHANNEL

THE PROJECT 27

VISITOR CENTER A new visitor plaza displays interpretive kiosks outside the visitor center, accessible 24 hours a day, to provide orientation information. A better understanding and appreciation of the park forges emotional and intellectual connections with the Grand Canyon and the rest of the National Park System.

VISITOR CENTER THE PROJECT 29

The plaza’s numerous sandstone slabs are carved with images of the plants and wildlife found within the canyon, quotations, animal tracks, and a life size mountain lion, lounging on a secluded rock. The plaza was designed to serve as an interactive discovery area which can be explored by individuals at their own pace or on a guided tour.

VISITOR CENTER THE PROJECT 31

tHE landmark / cultural history Awareness of Native people and their cultural history with the Grand Canyon is realized through a sculptural space between the Rim and the Visitor Center. Stories, symbols, and tribal connections with the canyon are engraved on locally quarried Kaibab limestone slabs. The intent of the landmark is to help clear away the distractions of daily life and set the stage for a sacred encounter with the Canyon.

MODEL OF LANDMARK FEATURE

CONSTRUCTION THE LANDMARK 35

WAYFINDING THE LANDMARK 37

The park and design team collaborated with local Tribes to build a sculptural space where large Kaibab limestone slabs are engraved with stories and symbols provided by the Tribes. The stories reflect and reveal the Native Tribes’ profound connection with the Canyon and its resources.

THE LANDMARK 39

ENGRAVED STORIES & SYYMBOLS

EDUCATION

Just the act of initiating meetings with the Tribes was a cleansing process that gave them the opportunity to tell their story of the land. The design doesn’t try to tell the whole story, but underlines strong elements that remind people of the Tribes’ perspective and history.

THE LANDMARK 41

THE amphitheater & rim trail Culminate the journey from the Visitor Center to M ather Point and the R im Trail with breath- catching views that balance the experience with appropriate measures of safet y.

Accommodate the widest range of ages and abilities with accessible exploration of the rim.

Facilitate varied forms of events from personal contemplation and star- gazing, to stor ytelling, presentation, and per formance.

BOOK STORE

TUSAYAN

RESTROOM

VISITOR CENTER

TRANSIT PAVILION

MATHER POINT IMPROVEMENTS

PARKING LOT ON CANYON RIM

GRAND CANYON VILLAGE

context

MATHER POINT

THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 45

The planting concept extends like fingers of Great Basin desert scrub from the side canyons into the existing pinyon-juniper woodlands. The planting ecology concept proposed reestablishing the limestone habitat of the Great Basin Desert Scrub woven amongst the pinyon-juniper habitat.

CONCEPT DIAGRAM: EXTENDED SIDE CANYONS

CAPTURING THE MANY FACES OF THE CANYON FROM ONE VIEWPOINT

RIMK

SIDE CANYONSK

CONTEXT

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK TRAIL MAP

THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 47

COMPARISON POINTS Accessible in front level of amphitheater.

Trail access traveling behind stage, through front of amphitheater.

Eclectic stacking of stone at various levels with intentionally cut, smooth slabs of stone intermittently set throughout.

Symmetrical abstraction of canyon form.

CONCEPT & CONSTRUCTION THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 49

CONSTRUCTION THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 51

CONSTRUCTION THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 53

RIM TRAIL THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 55

The changes made to the built environment are intended to meet the exponential visitation growth that the park has experienced in recent decades.

Now it is a much more peaceful experience that allows for the adrenaline rush of standing on the edge without putting anyone in real danger.

SUNRISE AT THE AMPHITHEATER THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 57

SUNRISE AT THE AMPHITHEATER THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 59

AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 61

The improvements were designed to provide all people with a smoother, more generous approach to the extreme viewpoint of the rim. Previously, those who couldn’t negotiate stairs and a longer walk simply missed out. Now a gentle ramp reaches the very tip where the view is the most spectacular. Everyone gets to experience it.

RIM TRAIL THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 63

AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 65

RIM TRAIL THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 67

RIM TRAIL THE AMPHITHEATER & RIM TRAIL 69

in association with

Grand Canyon National Park

Steven P. Martin, Park Superintendent Victoria Stinson, Project Manager Ellen Seeley, Interpretive Specialist Carl Bowman, Exhibit Planner Janet Busco, Science and Resource Management Jan Balsam, Chief Cultural Resources

Denver Service Center

Patricia Sacks, Project Specialist Patrick Shea, Project Manager

HDR, Inc.

Doug Emmons, Project Manager Darren Lockhart, Engineer

EDX

David Edquist, Interpretive Designer Charlie Davis, Interpretive Designer

STONEWORK & SCULPTURE Andy Dufford and Crew, Chevo Studios

ARTIST/VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Jeffrey Joyce, Jeffrey Joyce Design

Muller Engineering

Carolyn Roan

PHOTOGRAPHY

NPS Photos by Michael Quinn (p. 8, 10, 11, 14, 19, 20, 22, 28, 29, 30, 32, 64) NPS Photos by William Brookins (p.62) NPS Photos: GRCA 21399. GRCA 03209 (p.31) Grand Canyon Fire and Aviation (p.18) Robb Williamson (p.1, 4, 5, 26, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)