Pikes Peak Summit Visitors Center

Colorado Springs, Colorado

America's Mountain

Pikes Peak, also known as America's Mountain, is one of the most visited mountains in the world, with more than 1,000,000 visitors annually. At 14,115 feet above sea level, it is the highest visitor center in the United States and the only “fourteener” that everyone can access regardless of age or fitness level. The deteriorating 1960s-era Pikes Peak Summit House could no longer meet the needs of its ever-growing number of visitors, and the City of Colorado Springs embarked on the design and construction of the new Visitor Center.

Community

Project Details

Square footage: 38,000 sf
Project cost: $60M

Design Details

High-profile public project with extensive stakeholder involvement
Improved ADA accessibility
High-performance sustainable design, pursuing LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certifications
The highest total-precast concrete structure in the world, with 462 precast concrete components delivered one at a time via the multi-switchback Pikes Peak Highway

Click here for more facts about the new Summit Visitor Center

Photography by Moss Photography & NIC LEHOUX

Recognition

2023 Excellence in Design Jury Citation, presented by AIA Maryland
2022 Project of the Year, presented by Engineering-News Record (ENR) Mountain States
2022 Best Projects Winner: Cultural/Worship and Specialty Construction, presented by Engineering-News Record (ENR) Mountain States
2022 Build America Award, New Construction $10M - $75M, presented by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America

2022 PCI Design Awards. Special Award: All-Precast Concrete Solution, presented by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

2022 PCI Design Awards, Special Award: Sustainable Design, presented by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

2021 CSI Environmental Stewardship Award, presented by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

Stunning Landscape Takes Center Stage

The facility's careful placement and sensitive design puts the focus on the stunning landscape, allowing the boundless sky and views to take center stage. Indoor and outdoor interpretive exhibits offer guests opportunities to learn about the Peak’s formation, discovery, and iconic place in American History. Accessible walkways along the site allow visitors to experience the beauty of Pikes Peak.

"We now have a visitor center truly worthy of the majesty and magnificence of Pikes Peak and the luster of its history.”

Mayor John Suthers, City of Colorado Springs

The goal for the design team was to give visitors to the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center a seamless, immersive experience. RTA and GWWO guided the design process using extensive public input and deep collaboration among all project stakeholders and 500,000 local citizens who see Pikes Peak as their mountain.