The building location and its approach provide visitors with a progressive, unfolding appreciation for the area’s significant message. Visitors approach the main entrance doors at the bottom of the cliff via a pedestrian plaza flanked on both sides by retaining walls simulating bedrock scars depicting an archaeological dig. The door location and design provides visitors with a feeling of stepping into an important cultural and spiritual world. Upon entering the Centre, visitors are overwhelmed by the drama and the spirit of the jump unfolding in front of them.
The interior is designed to bring visitors to the top of the cliff, allowing them the opportunity to orient themselves and to contemplate the buffalo driving lanes leading to the kill site.
The skylights over the ecology and buffalo jump exhibits, and the location of the various stairs joining all levels and exhibition galleries, demonstrate the interdependency between the exhibit designs and the structure. The building is hand and glove with the site, similar to the native way of life and their environment:
The large 3-storey volume of the archaeology gallery at the main level is surrounded on the second level by the cafeteria, the End of Way of Life Gallery, the audiovisual theatre, and the Buffalo Jump Gallery on the third level. This provides a dramatic, feverish character to the jump operation, the height of the fall, and the celebrative spirit of the post-jump festivities.
ASSESSMENT:
Alberta Public Works, Supply & Services
The Architect’s close collaboration with the design/display team resulted in the close fit of the story line of the display and the structure.
The Centre has been in operation for 7 years, and we have found that the building has served our purposes very efficiently. There have been no major changes to the building, nor do we envision any in the near future.
The design met our needs with imagination and ingenuity. I have no hesitation in recommending this project for an award.