The city of Gulf Shores and the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability are opening the Gulf Coast Ecocenter today. The new campus, located on 12 acres adjacent to preserved wetland, will serve as a regional hub for experiential environmental education, sustainable tourism and community connection to nature.
The Ecocenter was designed by Birmingham-based ArchitectureWorks LLP, in collaboration with Fairhope-based Watershed LLC. The center is pursuing LEED Gold and Fortified Commercial Silver certifications for its resilience and sustainability.
“The buildings and campus were designed in close collaboration with both educational and maintenance staff, so that they serve as a living laboratory for sustainable living and ecological research,” said Rebecca Dunn Bryant, founder and principal at Watershed. “We used historical climate responsive elements like deep porches, dog trots and thermal chimneys so that visitors don’t have to retreat to the air-conditioned interiors to be comfortable. It was important to owners and operators that the campus invite visitors to explore and appreciate the unique ecology of the gulf coast.”
Located adjacent to Gulf State Park, the new campus was funded through the Restore Act and constructed by The Green-Simmons Co. The architecture incorporates the facility’s surroundings, using biophilic design, durable materials and an open-air campus model. The campus includes nature-based camps, STEM field studies, bike programs, organic gardening and rope courses. It contains 17,000 square feet of educational and support space.
The Gulf Coast Ecocenter will provide an array of outdoor learning programs, including the “Ambassadors of the Environment” curriculum developed by the Ocean Futures Society, and will serve as a link between Gulf Shores City Schools, Gulf State Park and the coastal community.
