AFTER 50 YEARS, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK'S CONCESSIONS ARE TRANSFORMED TO WELCOME VISITORS

PHOENIX, AZ – April 22, 2022 – Nationally recognized design firm Gould Evans is pleased to announce that the Yosemite National Park concessions renovations project has received a Merit Award from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Southwest Chapter.

“Our team is honored to receive this award,” says Melissa Alexander, NCIDQ, IIDA, principal of Gould Evans and director of Canary, Gould Evans’ in-house experiential design studio. “This project was a practice in inviting the outdoors in; when we study space, we often look to the surrounding environment to pick up on a rhythm. The client group was generous and allowed us to explore local materiality and make these gathering places welcoming for any traveler.”

Within the majestic Yosemite Valley, three locations — Degnan’s Loft, Base Camp, and Curry Village — serve as refueling points for adventurers. Unfortunately, the existing facilities were not updated in 50 years and saw higher visitation than their initial capabilities.

Each concession’s identity was designed to create an intimate guest experience while embracing the infinite scale of the park. Through phased renovations, the team modernized the concessions while honoring the historic architecture and highlighting the sites’ natural splendor. Diligent research and coordination led the team to develop color palettes from historic textiles and select finishes to complement the original structure. Raw materials were chosen to create subtle palettes that invite the outdoor experience inside. The identities created underscore the rich history of the park and celebrate an exciting future.

With the park receiving nearly 5 million visitors each year, the concessions were renovated with longevity, sustainability, and a reverence for the original architecture. In partnership with the firm's other studios, the team underscored the natural world while developing a community space that improved visitors' comfort and experience.

 

About Gould Evans

Gould Evans’ award-winning designs are recognized for their specificity to people and place. Our diverse architecture portfolio stems from a design process that starts with the client’s goals. We share a passion for regional architecture and design that positively impacts our communities. To learn more, visit www.gouldevans.com.

 

About The International Interior Design Association (IIDA)

The IIDA is a global commercial interior design association that supports design professionals. It advocates for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of Interior Design. To learn more about the Southwest Chapter, visit www.iidasw.org.

 

About Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is an American national park in California, surrounded on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The park is managed by the National Park Service and covers an area of 759,620 acres and sits in four counties – centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa, extending north and east to Mono and south to Madera County. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness. To learn more, visit www.nps.gov/yose.

 

Gould Evans Media Contact

Pat Dimond

pat.dimond@gouldevans.com

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Former Abandoned Suburban Big-Box Store Transformed into 21^st Century Library

Kansas City, MO – November 4th, 2021 – Nationally recognized design firm, Gould Evans, is pleased to announce the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library has received a 2021 American Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre of Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies

“Our team is honored to receive an American Architecture Award this year, “ says Sean Zaudke, Associate Principal of Gould Evans. “Libraries of today are no longer about books or maker spaces (although Indian Creek contains both). The library is more about quickly refocusing and repurposing its functions based upon community needs and the design places an emphasis on flexibility and embracing change. This project focuses on the functional transformation of the traditional library concept into a 21st century model.”

Re-establishing nature in a commercial retail setting, the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library adaptive reuse project is a story of transformation. The transformation focuses on the conversion of a vacant, big-box retail structure—inspired by daylight and a connection to nature that was non-existent in the big-box context. Underlying the 21^st century library model is a focus on the future. The library achieves this focus in two ways: by designing for adaptability to future change and by integrating sustainability strategies throughout the design, including the 2030 challenge energy reduction, daylighting and a focus on community wellness. At the library's entry, users are greeted with a maker space, a café, a conference center, and a flexible workplace environment—with traditional library programs, reading spaces, and collections experienced deeper within the library. In this way, the Olathe Indian Creek Library becomes a community hub, creating a unique asset different than that of a typical public library.

In its 27^th year, The American Architectural Awards® are the nation’s highest and most prestigious distinguished building awards program that honor new and cutting-edge design in the United States. In 2021, the Museum received a record number of projects for new buildings, landscape architecture, and urban planning from the most important firms practicing in the U.S. and globally. Over 100 projects were selected by a distinguished group of Miami architects, educators, and developers. The full list of 2021 winning projects can be viewed here: https://www.chi-athenaeum.org/.

This is Gould Evans’ 6^th American Architecture Award. Previous American Architecture Awards include the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Justice Center, Missouri Innovation Campus, University of Kansas Debruce Center for the Original Rules of Basketball, the Lawrence Public Library, and the NOAA La Jolla Lab Consolidation Project (Southwest Fisheries).

High resolution photos of the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library, taken by Michael Robinson, can be downloaded here.

About Gould Evans

Gould Evans’ award-winning designs are recognized for their specificity to people and place. Our diverse portfolio of architecture stems from a design process that starts with the client’s goals. We share a passion for regional architecture and design that positively impacts our communities. To learn more, visit www.gouldevans.com.

Gould Evans Media Contact

Lia Fondrisi

lia.fondrisi@gouldevans.com

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