THE SITE - City of Scottsdale · Since the site north of the existing Gateway was the subject ... maintenance site seemed to resolve many of the ... to offer a world class interpretive

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THE SITESITE ANALYSIS

1. Tom’s Thumb

2. Lookout Point

3. Drinkwater Peak

4. McDowell Peak

5. “Gateway Loop” Peak

6. Thompson Peak

7. Taliesin Overlook

DDC PANORAMA (LANDFORMS)

Since the site north of the existing Gateway was the subject of the Phase 2 work, and that site analysis was included in that report, it was not duplicated here. It can be found on Pages 18 -22 of the Phase 2 report.

Alternative Site Considered within GatewayAs the design work continued, and more public commentary continued relating to the negative influence the DDC might have on the Gateway hiker experience, the design team looked for a compromise. It was discussed in several meetings with the DDCS, and City Staff, whether an alternative site within the Gateway area might be considered. Consideration was given to the existing parking lot area, to an area directly north of the parking lot, and to an area behind and east of the existing maintenance building. As time went on, and more discussion and site visits occurred, the area behind the existing maintenance site seemed to resolve many of the issues.

An existing, secondary, trailhead was located at that location for equestrian and hiker use, and the parking area was less used than the stalls nearest the Gateway trailhead. The area also offered many of the same view corridors that were explored by Thinc for their interpretive experiences. It also offered a better opportunity adjacent to a wash corridor for the interpretive experience regarding water flow and animal corridors. Meetings were held on site with several members of the City Staff to review the site relocation, who also consulted with the Acting City Manager at the time for approval. Our Teams Civil Engineers, and the City Engineer also looked at the drainage conditions, as well as the parking area and the use of the existing maintenance building. After much deliberation, it was decided by City Staff that it would be acceptable to move the design area to this new area for the purposes of this study.

Support Site Concept ConsideredAs the design work progressed on the second site, the idea of making a smaller footprint for the DDC by having only what were considered “essential uses” be located within the Preserve, and other spaces such as certain storage, offices, and overflow parking could possibly be located at a support site nearby, but not in the Preserve. Although the exact location for the support site has not been determined, a few possibilities exist on City owned land in the Bell Rd. Corridor. The DDCS, and its consultants analyzed the architectural program, and selected which spaces could be located at the support facility. With this new approach, we started the design based on the new site location with a smaller footprint goal.

Original Proposed Site

Current Proposed Site

Desert Discovery Center | Architectural Final ReportSWABACK PARTNERS

SITE ANALYSIS

ORIGINAL PROPOSED SITE LOCATION CURRENT PROPOSED SITE LOCATION

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July 2017Desert Discovery Center | Architectural Final ReportSWABACK PARTNERS

INITIAL SITE IMPRESSIONS

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As you enter the Gateway Trailhead, the open-pavilion-form provides shelter and shade as you embark on your hike into the Preserve.

To the north, and mostly in alignment with the Gateway building is the proposed building site of the DDC. It was indicated on the initial Municipal Use Master Site Plan that was approved in (insert date) as part of the Gateway design. It was also this same site that the Phase 2 study used for its concept, and it is the site that the design team started its initial design work. The site location would allow for a free flow of hikers through the Gateway as always, and for those going to the DDC they would simply head a bit north on a proposed walkway into the DDC facilities.

As the design process began, and public meetings were held, the impact of the DDC on the Gateway hiker experience was questioned. It was felt, by some, that the DDC would become a distraction to hikers and that it would greatly change their experience. Others saw it as an opportunity to offer a world class interpretive experience to educate hikers as they entered the Preserve to understand what they were about to experience, and help explain what they did not already know. It could also help educate visitors on how the desert changes throughout the different seasons.

The design team took those comments under advisement and started developing a series of design alternatives. Some of those very early sketches are included here.


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SITE ANALYSIS OF SECOND SITE


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Documents

THE SITE - City of Scottsdale · Since the site north of the existing Gateway was the subject ... maintenance site seemed to resolve many of the ... to offer a world class interpretive