The Preserve showcases nature as sacred. Here, visitors acclimate themselves to the incomparable beauty of the area through a transitory, sensory experience.

The structure’s simple L-shaped plan guides guests along a history of environmental conservation. At the end of the building, an apse-like form cocoons visitors in a simulated soundscape, where a three-minute loop plays sounds recorded on site, ending in a dramatic thunderstorm. Tall, vertical openings, reminiscent of airy gaps between barn slats but also of the glass windows of gothic cathedrals, blur the lines between indoors and out. Once they’ve moved through the space, guests are better prepared to appreciate the surrounding natural beauty as they set out to hike Phelps Lake Loop.

Upon completion, the Preserve was awarded LEED Platinum status, a first for both the state of Wyoming and the U.S. National Park Service.