Furnace Creek Visitors Center

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Furnace Creek Visitors Center

Site overview

Built in 1959 by noted National Park Service architect Cecil Doty, the Furnace Creek Visitors Center in Death Valley National Park, is one of the most prominent and best preserved examples of a Modernist architectural design done under the “Mission 66” program. Located within one of the world’s harshest environments, the visitors center is comprised of two structures: the Administration Building and the Museum building, which together surround a landscaped courtyard. In 2012, the center completed a sensitive rehabilitation, which included expansions of the lobby, restrooms, and administrative offices, new energy efficient systems, a rehab of the historically significant landscaping, new pedestrian paving, and shade structures for visitor accommodation. The preservation project earned a Docomomo Modernism in America award in 2014.

Awards

Design

Award of Excellence

Civic

The Design Award of Excellence is given for the restoration of Furnace Creek Visitor Center at Death Valley National Park in California. In selecting the project, the jury noted the exemplary attention to detail in the preservation and expansion of the site. “Receiving a million visitors annually, Furnace Creek Visitor Center is an outstanding example of the National Park Service’s “Mission 66” program.” Built in 1959 by noted Park Service architect Cecil Doty, the buildings were sensitively expanded at the lobby, restrooms and administrative offices. The additions respect the original architecture. Character defining features were preserved and historically significant landscaping was thoughtfully rehabilitated. New pedestrian paving and shade structures were added for visitor accommodation. LEED Gold certification is pending. 

“With the recent loss of Richard Neutra’s Cyclorama building at Gettysburg and a number of Mission 66 sites lost or in serious need of restoration, we congratulate the team for recognizing the high architectural and historic value of the complex, committing the funding for its preservation and sensitively restoring, adapting and expanding it for continued productive use. The Furnace Creek project demonstrates the capacity of modern buildings to be productive, adaptable and sustainable well into the future.”

- James Polshek
Client

National Park Service, Denver Service Center

Restoration Team
  • National Park Service, Denver Service Center - (Project Manager/Property Owner)
  • Architectural Resources Group, Inc. - (Architect)
  • AMEC Environment & Infrastructure Inc. - (Project Management, Engineering, and Landscape Architecture)

How to Visit

Open to the public

Location

Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Furnace Creek, CA, 92328

Country

US
More visitation information

Designer(s)

Other designers

Cecil Doty

Completion

1959