Our design for the Michigan City Welcome Center is focused on the beauty of the natural environment in the northern region of the state that is local to this site. We worked closely with a custom branding consultant to integrate elements of messaging throughout the interior of the building in the form of gallery exhibits, to inform visitors of Indiana’s natural beauty like limestone, dunes, and waterways in this region.

The design of the building draws from these environmental elements, with rich limestone, natural materials, and organic authentic shapes. A prominent water feature along the entry is symbiotic to the building in mitigating and capturing rainwater in relationship to the buildings gutter systems. A board walk system on the other side of the building allows visitors to stroll through the wetlands while taking a break from their travels.

The Welcome Center is designed to be very transparent, taking advantage of views to the wooded wetland behind the building and further highlighting the message of the project in the strength of the natural environment.