Lower Antelope Canyon Visitor Center
Suina Design assisted Dixie Ellis Tours with the design and construction administration of a brand new visitor’s center located in Page, Arizona. The visitor’s center was much needed, Dixie Ellis offers guided tours through the striking and scenic Lower Antelope Canyon and is always busy with thousands of annual visitors. Previously the infrastructure of the site was limited to a small shade structure and a small temporary building to sell tickets out of.
The client wanted a large interior space where people can line up, wait in a cool indoors environment, and also maybe stop by the gift shop for a snack or souvenir. The building’s design was based on the traditional Navajo dwelling, the Hogan. The main “Hogan” space consists of plenty of natural lighting, including a large focal point skylight that shines onto the stained concrete below decorated with a basket weave pattern. Guests will buy their tours at the check in counter - which was hand crafted by an artist to look like the sandstone of the canyon. A local artist was commissioned to paint several murals inside and outside the building. There are also large photo murals on the interior walls. These details offer an elevated experience before guests can even enter the canyon, and can give handicap visitor’s a means of experiencing the canyon without the physical descent. The exterior also offers a large seating area with plenty of tables and benches to accommodate visitors.
