Gateway to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve - Site Plan

The Gateway was designed as an entry and passage into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, while minimizing the impact on the native Sonoran Desert environment. Rammed earth was used to construct the building walls, in essence utilizing only native earth materials that allow the building to blend into the landscape. It recalls the tradition of indigenous desert building, while adhering to modern sustainable performance requirements.

The roof of the building utilizes native desert rock cobbles, allowing the building to disappear into the landscape when viewed from afar. Other sustainable strategies include using more than 20% recycled materials for the building, a net-zero energy consumption due to the solar panels installed on the roof, and harvested rainwater and storage for meeting all landscape irrigation needs.