Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida
Project Summary
Alpha was the NPS Construction Manager Representative for the Guy Bradley Visitor Center and Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant project at Everglades National Park. We provided comprehensive on-site construction advisory services including construction oversite and coordination, quality assurance, and project controls.
The former lodge and visitor center building were damaged by hurricanes in 2005 and 2017. Located along the coast of Florida Bay, Flamingo is a premier destination in Everglades National Park at the southernmost tip of the Florida peninsula. Formerly named the Flamingo Visitor Center, the newly renamed Guy Bradley Visitor Center opened its doors in July 2023. The Visitor Center was renamed for the first Audubon game warden, who was killed in the line of duty protecting wading birds during the plume hunting era of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
This project focused on repurposing and rehabilitating the former Flamingo concessions restaurant and gift shop into the new visitor center, lodge and restaurant. Renovations also included a new Law Enforcement Wing. The renovations incorporate energy efficient features while meeting Florida building code for coastal high hazard zones. Major project elements include replacing the steel and concrete roof structure and membrane roofing system. Installing new mechanical HVAC, systems fire suppression, lightning protection, audio/visual, telecom, video surveillance, and lighting. Addressing ADA compliance issues, including ADA design integrated at workstations for staff. Rehabilitating, reconfiguring, and repurposing interior spaces. Rehabilitating exterior stucco wall coverings and installing new hurricane rated windows and doors and rehabilitating exterior steps and rails.
The park placed special emphasis on preserving the unique features of the Mission 66 architecture with its distinctive pink color and Miami Modern elements. The National Park Service’s (NPS) Mission 66 campaign in the mid-1900s expanded visitor services and modernized park facilities leading up to the agency’s 50th anniversary. The lodge and restaurant also draw inspiration from this historic project. The original Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant was a popular visitor spot for nearly 40 years. Following its destruction by hurricanes, the NPS conducted extensive feasibility studies and began planning for the new lodge in 2018. Considerations for resiliency and storm protection in the face of sea level rise from climate change were integrated in the design and building of the lodge, restaurant and visitor center.
Services Provided
Construction Management
