Wolf Architecture was selected in 2014 to design a new $7m Visitors Center for the South Gateway to the Mat Su Borough.  The facility is 10,400 sf in area and designed to LEED silver standards.  The facility provides offices for the Mat Su Convention and Visitors Bureau, educational space, interpretive trails, and a large gathering area which celebrates the Mat Su Valley. Residents and visitors alike will learn about and directly experience the wealth of cultural, natural, recreational and business amenities in the Mat-Su Valley. The Visitor Center will welcome visitors to the Mat-Su Valley, showcase the natural beauty of the area, promote tourism-related and recreation-related economic development, provide interpretive information about the region’s cultural history and natural attractions, and foster stewardship of the Mat-Su Valley’s cultural and natural identity.   

In pursuing the LEED Silver standard, some of the sustainable attributes for the facility will include:

• Sustainable Sites – including habitat protection and water conservation

• Water Efficiency – 35% reduction in water use

• Energy Efficiency – 30% energy savings, saving $22,000 annually

• Materials – 50% sustainable materials including 20% recycled, 10 local and 50% FCS wood

• Indoor Air Quality – ventilation, low-VOC paints and finishes, daylight and views

• Innovation – using the building and trails as a teaching tool