This design-build project is located within the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve (SARI), a unit of the National Park Service (NPS) on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The remote project site is through a semi-deciduous tropical dry forest and adjacent estuarine bay on the western edge of Mangrove Lagoon on Hemmer’s Peninsula.

The observatory building is designed to be a fully self-sufficient net zero building.  The building is approximately 1200 SF and designed to accommodate up to 24 occupants. The space is used to facilitate studying of surrounding marine environment and other natural/cultural features. Additionally, fixed parking, fixed walkway and a removable floating dock were provided for access to the water and boats.

Significant road improvement features were also designed for approximately a two mile coastal access road.  Roadway conditions in areas that were washed out due to prevalence of storm run-off and standing water were improved.  This included addressing drainage issues, adding erosion prevention measures, clearing and repair of existing check dams, and improving the overall driving surface of the access roads.  Pull-offs were constructed to allow better vehicle traffic.