Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center

EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center farm view
EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center arrival view
EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center outside view
EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center water shed view
EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center lobby view
EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center west wing view
EHDD Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center floor plan

The Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center project reimagines a 50-year old visitor center located in the hills above Berkeley, CA. It is the experiential and cultural hub of the Tilden Nature Area, one of the most well-loved parks within the East Bay Regional Park System. It demonstrates the District’s dedication to enriching public access to, awareness of, and delight in nature.

The Visitor Center and its surrounding landscape provide flexible, accessible, and inviting spaces for the District’s rich programming. This is their flagship visitor-serving facility and stands as a model of stewardship of the wildland-urban interface.

New exhibits are informed by the immediate surroundings of the visitor center—the plants and species of the nearby creek, meadow, forest, and farmland. These interpretive elements are positioned within the building to take advantage of visual and experiential connections to these same natural elements.

The building features locally sourced wood products, and reuses framing lumber from the original structure. The simple forms comprise a ‘camp’ and provide connections from the interior to the exterior to enhance the educational opportunities and connect visitors to the site. The new structures are built to current standards of fire-resistant construction, and the landscape features native and pollinator-friendly plants.