National Environmental Science Center

Each year, NatureBridge welcomes 13,000 students to Yosemite National Park to be immersed in outdoor learning, have transformative experiences in nature, and build indelible relationships with classmates. The organization wanted a campus that holistically considers social, cultural and natural resources alongside ease of operations, supporting their mission of connecting youth to the wonder of the natural world. The result is a welcoming, high-performance campus that operates efficiently and nurtures a hands-on science curriculum.

The 20-building, 224-bed master plan was informed by in-depth knowledge of the site, working the new buildings and pathways into existing rail and road alignments to reduce grading while providing on-grade universal access across the entirety of the steep site.

Each building is designed with simplicity and sustainability in mind, facing outward toward the landscape, integrating daylight and natural ventilation, reducing demand on natural resources, and sitting lightly on the land. The practical, replicable sustainable design of the buildings reinforces NatureBridge’s own sustainability curriculum – showcasing strategies students can take back to home and classroom.

NatureBridge’s ability to welcome students into their immersive educational experiences.