架构师提供的文本描述。曾经仅仅是一个小径的停车场，现在成为通往辽阔而崎岖的北山公园的大门。北山游客中心由约翰道格拉斯建筑师教育当地人，游客和青年，关于山区保护区和索诺兰沙漠生态的意义。在过去的一年里，2万名游客参观了这个中心，并带着一种新的理解在我们繁华的大都市中保持开放空间的重要性。在开始进行设计研究之前，进行了具体的研究，以确保该设施的设计能够适应其沙漠环境。来自亚利桑那州立大学的地质学家团队是设计团队对该网站的理解的关键贡献者之一。他们对形成地形的隐藏力量的解释，直接导致了中心的形式和材料。

Text description provided by the architects. What was once merely a trail head parking lot, now serves as a gateway to the vast and rugged North Mountain Park. The North Mountain visitor center by John Douglas Architects educates locals, tourists and youth, on the significance of the mountain preserve and its Sonoran desert ecology. 20,000 visitors have toured the center over the past year and have taken with them a new sense of understanding on the importance of open-space preservation in our bustling metropolis. Prior to beginning design studies, specific research was conducted to ensure that the design of the facility would be responsive to its desert environment. One of the key contributors to the design team’s understanding of the site was a team of geologists from Arizona State University. Their explanation of the hidden forces that shape the terrain, led directly to the form and materials of the Center.

这个特殊的地点位于新的和非常古老的地质事件的交汇处。从垂直角度看，从山坡上可以看到中心的隆起角在10-12度左右。与这一特征平行的中心墙在这个角度向外倾斜，以表示地形的隐藏动态。

This particular site lies at the juncture of new and very old geologic events. The angle of uplift visible in the hillside that backdrops the Center is about 10-12 degrees from vertical. The walls of the center that parallel this feature are canted outward at that angle to express the hidden dynamic of the landforms.

地质学家还指出，锌是这个山坡上的一种天然矿物，因此选择锌包层作为倾斜墙，以进一步参考现场条件。考虑到现场岩石和矿物的多样性，这位建筑师制作了一批藏品，后来作为选择颜色的指南，以补充自然环境。最终，该中心的外部混凝土砌块墙被染成与景观中三种最主要的颜色相匹配的颜色。这使得完整的结构与周围环境有很强的视觉联系。

The geologist also pointed out that zinc was a naturally occurring mineral in this hillside, so zinc cladding was selected for the canted walls to further reference the site conditions. Given the variety of rocks and minerals on site, the architect made a collection which later served as a guide for selecting colors that would complement the natural surroundings. Ultimately, the exterior concrete block walls of the Center were dyed to match the three most dominant colors in the landscape. This allowed the completed structure to have a strong visual tie with its surroundings.

该设施的一些主要环境成就如下：

Some of the major environmental accomplishments of the facility are as follows:

该设施的建造对现场的影响最小：所有新设施都位于以前受到干扰的土地上。

The facility was built with minimum impact to the site: all new facilities were located on previously disturbed land.

这座建筑的建造非常节能：使用有效的遮阳装置来阻挡来自大型画廊窗户的阳光。遮阳处有24英尺深。外墙采用整体保温混凝土砌块。

The building was built to be very energy efficient: effective shading devices were employed to block sunlight from the large gallery windows. The shade overhang is 24 feet deep. Exterior walls are Integra insulated concrete block.

使用了整体彩色块，这不需要油漆，以尽量减少对设施的维护

Integral colored block was used, which doesn’t require painting, to minimize maintenance of the facility

该项目的设计和布局使公园的美景得到了最大限度的利用

Beautiful views of the Park were maximized by design and layout of the project

当设施关闭时，为小径使用者增加了外部厕所。

Exterior restrooms were added for trail users when the facility is closed

为马匹增加了一个稳定的花岗岩停车区。

A stabilized granite parking area was added for equestrians

现场的所有树木都被打捞起来，并在整个地区重新种植。

All of the trees on site were salvaged and replanted throughout the area

展览厅的设计是为了容纳索诺兰沙漠生态的交互式解释展示，并为旅游展览留出空间。

The Exhibit Hall was designed to accommodate interactive interpretive displays on Sonoran desert ecology and to allow room for traveling exhibits