The National Ability Center is an international leader in providing adaptive outdoor recreational opportunities to individuals of all abilities and ages. Since 1995 the NAC ski and snowboard programs have operated out of a ‘temporary’ location (a double wide trailer) at the base of Park City Mountain Resort. The organization, which provides over 5,400 ski and snowboard lessons each year, has long since outgrown their temporary double wide trailer and was in desperate need for a long-term solution. In 2016, Architectural Nexus and Big-D Signature teamed with the National Ability Center to design a permanent home. The three organizations worked together to determine how this new building might best represent the National Ability Center’s Mission of empowering individuals of all abilities by building self esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through sport, recreation and educational programs. The stated goal of the McGrath Mountain Center project was to create “an innovative magnet that empowers and inspires movement.”
The resulting building sweeps upwards pointing to the nearby peaks, challenging onlookers to get out and experience the hills. The exposed heavy timber structure hearkens to familiar surrounding architecture but does so with a modern twist. Canted glulam outriggers reach outward from the base of the building, capturing the edge of the deep eaves above, giving the static structure a sense of movement. Ample but appropriately positioned windows not only give program supervisors the opportunity to observe all the action at the base of the ski hill but also expose those unfamiliar to the transformational mission of the NAC.
