NC Estuary Center

Estuary Park View

Estuary Nature Center, Wilmington, NC
Academic Project

Design
Planning
Illustration/Visualization

The use of oft-forgotten space underneath a highway bridge makes not only an interesting intersection of infrastructure and environment, but also allows the bulk of the peninsula to be reserved and restored as protected habitat and public park. While Wilmington has an abundance of successful riverfront walks, it lacks open parkland and accessible natural areas. The location of the Nature Center maximizes acreage for these purposes and links to the existing and planned framework.

Estuary sketch © Chris Bozzelli, RA

Estuary Map © Chris Bozzelli, RA

Estuary Sustainability Images

The Center roof is situated ideally to catch bridge runoff, filter it through a rooftop planter rain garden, and slow flow to the river.

Estuary Light

 

 

The bridge is used as a giant shading device to minimize summer heat gain, but with a consequence of an excess of shade in the courtyard. The North building of the Estuary Center has been positioned to help reflect afternoon light into the courtyard.

Estuary Courtyard

 

 

Estuary First Floor Plan

 

Estuary Second Floor Plan

 

Downtown View Comparison

 

Estuary Cafe Deck View

 

Estuary Under Bridge

 

 

A separate floating dock, for park access, adjusts to ride the shifting mixing boundary formed by the two rivers and periodic tidal flows.

 

 

Estuary Floating Dock

A strong tide can bend the mixing line back – temporarily reversing the flow of one or both rivers, as seen below.

Tide forcing river to flow upstream

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Dock mechanism and model.

Estuary Floating Dock Model

Estuary ParkView Estuary Planning Estuary First Floor Plan Estuary Second Floor Plan Estuary Courtyard Estuary Cafe Deck View Estuary Under Bridge Downtown View Comparison Schematic Models Estuary Floating Dock Estuary Floating Dock Model