The site design allows the building to appear to nestle with and “grow” out of its original natural surroundings. Site preservation informed a primary design principle to restore natural habitat, integrate existing mature specimen trees, stone outcroppings and topographic structures. Much of the interface between the preserved and restored landscape at the project site’s perimeter is reinforced with native plant communities that further reinforce the site’s integrity as a functioning diverse ecosystem.

Working closely with the architects, this sensitive approach resulted in minimal site disturbance and allowed the building to weave into the mature landscape and emerge as an extension of the landscape rather than an insertion. Exterior and interior walls merge with rock outcroppings blurring the interface of building and landscape. Timber decks, constructed with Black Locust certified wood, in concert with indigenous bluestone stepping stone walkways navigate the landscape creating the impression of a “light touch” to the landscape design.