The 11,000-square-foot cathedral-style building welcomes park visitors with a custom-fabricated curved glulam eyebrow entryway leading to the massive span of the interior timber frame. New Energy Works Director of Heavy Timber Owen MacDonald says, “There’s a ton of complexity in the glulam curve area; it’s that focal point where you go, ‘Wow, look at that’.”

Using traditional wood-on-wood joinery and integrated steel, the gateway building features large trusses, custom curved glulams, and timber spans up to 42 feet long, creating a structure as unique as the park's surroundings. Bringing nature inside with the exposed wood structure and expansive windows, the project is a prime example of biophilic design, the deliberate incorporation of nature into the built environment.

Additionally, a timber-frame bus shelter and an information kiosk greet visitors before they enter the welcome center. In keeping with environmentally considerate construction, the center boasts several sustainable features, including a rooftop solar array and geothermal heating and cooling.