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The Center for Marine Conservation is a small compound for the Leatherback Trust, in Playa Grande, Costa Rica. It will provide accommodations for on site and visiting biologists, the site manager, visiting faculty scientists, Earth Watch volunteers, school groups and other visitors. The project includes a visitor center, new research facilities and residential facilities and will support the local economy by employing native guides to offer tourists the opportunity to safely watch nesting turtles.
The buildings are located to frame a courtyard intended to enhance the learning community as well as more easily secure the buildings. The compound is configured as three separate buildings: a two story sleeping building with accessible bedrooms and living spaces below connected to two stories of restrooms and showers. The dining pavilion is one story, with the kitchen directly accessible to parking area. The lab building and the dining pavilion flank the main entrance from parking.
Construction is envisioned as timber with lightweight concrete demising walls. As Guanacaste Province is within an earthquake zone, steel reinforced moment connections will create a robust building structure. A large canopy structure shades the buildings, while a lower trellis structure shades outdoor seating areas. The design intentionally creates a comfortable, livable structure minimizing environmental impact while creating a vibrant community experience.
