The Loop Grand Canyon Visitor Center

The Loop: a replacement for the existing Skywalk at Eagle Point, Grand Canyon West.

CAP (Comprehensive Architecture Project) goes much further than a typical studio, working with facade, structural, and mechanical consultants to push the project deep into design development. Together with Monica Blasko + Luke Cunnington I produced a full drawing set for the project, including architectural, civil, structural, and mechanical.

The project leads visitors through the 2 principal views offered by the site – Eagle Point and the main canyon – via a carefully orchestrated procession: an angular loop carved into the rock of the canyon. The entrance draws visitors below ground and through exhibitions branching off the Loop, represented on the exterior by the black glass facade branching off into the concrete-clad exhibition areas.

Finely controlling the visitor experience is central to the project. As visitors move towards the views, the Loop gets deeper, narrower, and darker, building tension that is released when they burst out of the rock into the viewing area overlooking the canyon. This double-height space contains a cafe on the mezzanine level and an auditorium carved into the canyon rock below.

The Loop wraps around an unexcavated rock island whose carved rock walls act as a reference, anchoring the visitor throughout the procession. Visitors exit the Loop on top of the rock island, where they can view the canyon from viewing platforms integrated into the geometry.

OrganizationCAP Studio, Professor Kutan AyataLocationPratt InstituteDate2011