Set on the threshold of Zion National Park in Utah, the Zion Discovery Center is envisioned as a new model for conservation-focused development and regenerative visitor experience. Designed by Overland Partners, the 25,000-square-foot center anchors the east gateway to Zion and serves as a point of connection to nearby Bryce Canyon, creating an integrated “Experience Corridor” that extends learning, stewardship, and recreation deep into the landscape.
Pursuing the Living Building Challenge certification, the project weaves together sustainable water systems, agricultural tourism, and low-carbon architecture to set a new benchmark for development in protected environments. Orchards, greenhouses, a farm stand, and a café create an active cultivated campus, while a new EV-based transit hub relieves pressure on Zion’s overcrowded west entrance and links visitors to the park’s expansive trail network. Interpretive exhibits, ranger programming, and docent-led activities celebrate the region’s cultural and ecological heritage.
Mercer Mass Timber is supplying 720 m³ of Spruce-Pine-Fir cross-laminated timber, forming the structural foundation of a building envisioned to operate in alignment with its place. Beyond the materials themselves, the technical execution was driven by advanced digital integration. By leveraging our Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) team, we were able to identify and resolve details long before they reached the site. This proactive approach mitigated field errors and ensured a seamless, trouble-free installation process.
The use of mass timber supports the project’s carbon goals, provides biophilic warmth for visitors, and reinforces the team’s commitment – shared by the Zion Mountain Local Service District, the National Park Service, and Zion Forever – to modeling ecological responsibility at the national-park interface. Together, these elements position the Discovery Center as a prototype for how public-private partnerships can deliver accessible, inclusive, and regenerative experiences for the next generation of park stewards.
