Outdoor Recreation Leadership Center

Estuarine Education Center

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Gautier, Mississippi

The Outdoor Recreation Leadership Center is a unique facility designed for the education of students, teachers, and the community in environmental, ecological, ecotourism, and wetland issues.  Due to its location on the Mary Walker Bayou, the natural, ecological resources of the Pascagoula River Basin the students are able to study in a hands-on learning environment where the protection of the ecological integrity of the watershed and river system are promoted.  Generous exterior porches, as well as freestanding learning pavilions located strategically on the site help to promote and enable direct interaction with nature.

Due to the environmentally sensitive nature of the site, the building was designed to meet current FEMA Coastal Construction Guidelines for building in coastal areas.   The Center contains administrative and classroom spaces, as well as a 30′ tall indoor climbing wall that rises up into a central glass tower to allow for natural day lighting to reach the interior core of the building.