Landmark Design is working with a multi-disciplinary team to develop design and construction documents for the Assateague Island Visitor Center at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland.  The Visitor Center focuses on views toward Sinepuxent Bay and Assateague Island.  The visual and interpretive connection to the bay, the island, and the natural and cultural environment are critical to the mission of the visitor center.

The visitor center is the portal where visitors become oriented to the park and begin to understand and appreciate the park's resources. Visitor center staff and volunteers assist visitors in planning their visit to the island.  The main focus of visitor experience and interpretation is on the island.

Opportunities exist to connect visitors to partner sites in the future, via safe and environmentally sensitive trail alignments.  Partner sites include the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Coastal Ecology and Teaching Laboratory, the historic Woodcock/Rackliffe Plantation House, and the Assateague Island State Park boat ramp.

Every effort will be made to disturb a minimum amount of land for development of the Visitor Center.  Even though much of the existing vegetation is non-native, it is established, and preserving it will minimize the perception of landscape disturbance.  Over time, park personnel may wish to remove invasive and non-native species and replant with native species.  Restoration activities like these are also valuable interpretive and visitor education opportunities.

Most of disturbed areas will be planted primarily with native grasses and forbs, and occasional natural appearing clumps of native shrubs and trees.  The remainder of the site that may be disturbed will be allowed to recover naturally, but supplemental plantings of native species will also occur.