The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation broke ground on the new $46-million Niagara Falls Welcome Center, designed by Baltimore-based GWWO Architects.

More than nine million people travel to Niagara Falls every year to witness the 3,160 tons of water that flows over the falls every second. The oldest state park in the United States, Niagara Falls State Park has a vast history encompassing many American stories, including its discovery by local Native Americans, Harriet Tubman’s crossing as part of the Underground Railroad, its suffering as a result of the Industrial Revolution (which led to its preservation by the state), and the daredevils who made the trip over the falls.

“This is a building that will both support and enhance the experience of people coming to view the wonder of the Falls. We are delighted today to begin construction and to be moving this project forward,” said Mark V. Mistretta, Western District Director, New York State Parks.

GWWO will replace the outdated and cramped existing facility, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation by working with renowned experts in the design of visitor and interpretive centers – to design a new welcome center within Niagara Falls State Park. The center will offer an immersive experience both inside the building and out. 

Visitors will be taken on a journey through time, spanning the eras of geological formation, highlighting the flora and fauna of the region, and eventual human impact on the falls, bringing to life the many voices and perspectives of those experiencing its beauty and grandeur.

The new 29,000-square-foot (2,694-square-metre) center will include visitor orientation, lobby, interactive exhibits, gift shop, dining, and outdoor terraces and overlook. 

Placing the awe-inspiring beauty of the Niagara River Gorge and immense power of the falls at the forefront, the center is a quiet form nestled into the sloped site. 

Framing views to the head of the falls, the building gracefully transitions visitors between the formal entrance gardens in the upper site and the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed landscape of the lower grove. 

Like a giant sheet of water, the expansive glass facade maximizes views and offers continuous connections to the falls throughout the lobby and exhibit areas. 

Natural materials, including limestone sourced from the Niagara escarpment, wood ceilings, and blackened metal roof and soffit reflect the building’s surroundings and industrial history.

Sustainability played an integral role in the design of the new welcome center. Built on a previously developed site, the majority of the new building’s footprint sits in the same location as the existing building in order to minimize the environmental impact on the site. 

Nestling the building into the site’s naturally sloped topography reduces the heating and cooling demands of the support and immersive experience spaces under the building’s vegetated roof. Indoor water use is reduced through the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures throughout the facility. In addition, the irrigation system for the development’s native plantings will be sourced from the Niagara River and supplemented by cisterns which capture water from the building’s roofs to reduce the demand for potable water.