Located at the boundary between the city and desert, the Pima Dynamite Trailhead creates a public gateway into the expansive reaches of the northern McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The trailhead responds to the unique conditions of its site to provide a responsible interface for hikers, bikers, and equestrians to enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The structure is delicately integrated into the natural drainage flows and topography and within the constraints of two powerline corridors traversing this region of the preserve.
Focused on the preservation and restoration of the environment and ecology, new construction is limited to previously disturbed land. Salvaged saguaros, trees, and soils from the site are combined with additional native plants to restore previous site disturbances and seamlessly tie into the native desert.
The trailhead is oriented to reveal vistas and frame views of the preserve with a low folding form that responds to the harsh climate and creates expansive outdoor shaded spaces and intimate daylit interiors. The structure includes community restrooms, covered amphitheater, and indoor-outdoor meeting space along with staff offices and maintenance facilities. Its corten steel skin articulates each facade with texture, transparency, and shadow, reinforcing the architectural language of the greater preserve and allowing the building to naturally weather into the desert.
