Revitalization of El Portal Visitors Center | Marvel

El Portal Visitors’ Center is nestled within El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest System. Originally designed by the Puerto Rican architecture firm Sierra Cardona Ferrer, the project had undergone no significant changes since its opening in 1996. After Hurricane Maria and Irma brought extensive hurricane damage, the US Forest Service decided to overhaul El Portal and update its offerings. A competition for the design-build contract was opened and Marvel, along with Interlink, were awarded the project. Marvel’s intervention, in partnership with Interlink, consists of the re-design and complete renovation of the buildings and site.
Elements of the original design, including the main hall, the upper courtyard, and the water feature were modified to give way to a newer design vision, accommodate current needs, and comply with current codes and sustainability standards. Key to Marvel's improvements was implementation of the first and only accessible trail in the entire National Forest.
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