The Gulf Coast Ecocenter is a 17,000-square-foot environmental education campus designed to support nature-based programming, sustainable tourism, and hands-on learning for students and the broader Gulf Coast community. Located on a 12-acre site adjacent to 30 acres of preserved wetland and Gulf State Park, the campus serves as a physical and programmatic bridge between the city’s public school system and its surrounding ecological context.

The project was fully funded through the RESTORE Council as part of broader efforts to support ecological and economic recovery in coastal communities. A collaborative, stakeholder-driven design process prioritized ecological sensitivity, educational impact, and long-term resilience. Over 50% of the site remains undisturbed, with buildings carefully inserted into previously cleared areas to preserve the existing longleaf pine and oak habitat.

The campus includes multiple low-impact structures: classroom buildings, open-air pavilions, and activity hubs that support targeted programming. The Mobility Hub provides access to a fleet of bicycles for guided excursions into the state park trail system, while the Making Hub includes a dedicated maker space for creative and environmental learning.

The architecture employs passive ventilation, daylighting, and biophilic strategies to strengthen connections between occupants and the landscape. Designed with LEED Gold and FORTIFIED Commercial Silver certification goals in mind, the project emphasizes material restraint, clarity of structure, and seamless integration with its environment. The result is a purpose-built campus that fosters stewardship, sustainability, and immersive outdoor education.

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Gulf Coast Ecocenter

Gulf Shores, AL, United States

Gulf Coast Ecocenter

Gulf Shores, AL, United States

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