GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM WELCOME CENTER

GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM WELCOME CENTER

CLIENT // GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM WELCOME CENTER

YEAR // 2015

CATEGORY // COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

Tourism’s impact on the Alabama Gulf Coast economy is tremendous, with approximately 7 million visitors per year choosing these sugar sand beaches for their vacation.  First impressions are important for those guests, so the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism has just recently opened their new Welcome Center on Highway 59 in Gulf Shores just across from the Jack Edwards Airport property.  WAS was engaged by the project architecture firm, McCollough Architecture, and the client to provide planting, irrigation, and hardscape design, but, most significantly – the design and contract administration for the dolphin fountain in the building’s entry plaza.  This family of stainless-steel dolphins, by local artist Frank Ledbetter, appears to to be caught jumping from the infinity basin where water spills and shimmers in the coastal sunshine.  This fun space awaits visitors who stop by the new facility for information, a warm welcome, and maybe a pic with the resident dolphins.