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Seattle, Washington Awards
1999 AIA Seattle Chapter Honor Award 1998 Citation Award, American Wood Council
1997 Award of Merit - Public Projects Construction Data & News
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Discovery Park Visitor Center
The goal of this center is to serve as the first step in one's
park experience: to orient the visitor, give them an understanding
of the natural history of Discovery Park, and then to lead them
outside to explore and enjoy this 390 acre "outdoor classroom." Miller Hull worked closely with the Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation and the Discovery Park Advisory Committee to ensure that this center fulfills its mission and promotes a genuine appreciation of this very special natural resource. Public activities within the center will take place in the exhibit space off the lobby, Discovery Room (for children), classrooms, a multipurpose room, and an outdoor gathering porch and its adjacent "green."
A separate day camp building for 60 children is located off the green. The separation minimizes disruptions but allows the day camp direct access to the multipurpose room. Operable partitions allow the day camp to be configured to meet the needs of rental clients who will use the facility when the summer day camp is not in session. These rooms all have direct access to an outdoor covered porch and a sheltered outdoor space which is the "hearth" of the project.
The project involved extensive landscaping to restore native vegetation which included new plantings on the site of the former visitor center.