Turtle River Visitor Center

Constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Turtle River State Park is located in a beautiful, wooded valley along the meandering Turtle River, just 20 miles east of Grand Forks, ND. The Park’s new all-season Visitor Center replaces an outdated public information and staff office building at the center of a North Dakota prairie oasis. JLG worked with the team to create a design influenced by historic CCC architecture within the Park, focused on an updated palette of durable materials, including fiber cement board and batten siding, clad windows, and a fieldstone base. JLG’s plan configures space catered to the public – displays, meeting rooms, outdoor observation space, an information desk, and offices for the park staff. The Visitor Center’s interior features a cathedral ceiling and exposed trusses over the administrative and interpretive display, with simplistic materials and a biophilic color scheme. Today, the Visitor Center is a critical part of the Park’s year-round recreational support system, creating home base comforts for travelers, families, and adventure seekers alike.