Port Canaveral Exploration Tower
Port Canaveral E x p l o r a t i o n To w e r Port Canaveral, Florida Institutional T he ic on i c n e w Po r t C an av e r al E x p lo r atio n To wer — h i g h l y vi s i b l e fr o m th e Po r t’s cr u is e shi p t er m i n al an d n e a r b y majo r tr an s p o r tatio n ro u t es —w as p l an n e d as a d e s tin atio n w ith its o wn dr a w i n g p o w e r. S imu ltan e o u s ly, it is th e anch or pr o j e ct o f an e x te n s iv e r e d e v e lo p me n t p la nn e d t o r e v i tal i z e C an av e r al Co v e ’s ha r bor s id e m ar ke t ar ea an d cap italize o n its lo c a t ion at t h e cr o s s r o ad s o f man y to u r is t ac t i v it i e s. T he Towe r e x p r e s s e s th e co mmo n char a c t er i sti cs — t r an s ie n ce, fu n ctio n an d image r y — o f th e r e g i on ’s man y s to r ie s th at it tel l s : c r u i s i n g, t h e s p a ce co as t, th e militar y, na t ur e, an d b e ach e s. T h e b u ild in g ’s d y n amic for m a nd f e at u r e s — su n lo u v e r s, e x p o s e d struc t u r e an d i r i d e sce n t s kin —co n tr ib u te to a c ons t a n t se n s e o f mo v e me n t as th e s u n p la y s a c r o ss t h e s tr u c tu r e, me e t fu n ctio n al nee ds, a n d e vo ke i m ag e r y o f th e b u s y p o r t and s ur r o u n d i n g co u n ty. A r o cke t r e ad y to lau n c h, a s u r f b o ar d i n th e s an d , a s h ip ’s hul l, a r o cke t co n tr ai l , all can b e s e e n in th e struc t u r e ’s str i ki n g p r e s e n ce. Ins ide, v i s i to r s g e t sp e ctacu lar b ir d ’s e y e vie ws of Po r t C an ave r al an d th e s u r r o u n d in g are a f r om tw o o b s e r v atio n d e cks an d d is co v e r mo r e a bo u t t h i s u n i q u e p ar t o f F lo r id a fr o m sev en f lo o r s o f e xh i b i ts an d in te r activ e p lay.
Design Inspiration Transience The idea of transience is seen in all of the stories associated with The Port and Brevard County from the constant movement of ships and cargo to the ever changing landscape of the beaches and natural habitats. The Exploration Tower is expressive of transience in its dynamic form, ever-changing as visitors view it from various vantage points. The interplay of shade and shadow as the sun shifts and the iridescent skin, which changes color depending on climatic conditions, further express the characteristic of transience in the design.
Imagery All of the stories associated with the Port and Brevard County share strong imagery—singular forms, striking in their beauty and indelibly fixed in one’s memory. The Exploration Tower makes metaphorical connections to the various stories in Brevard County. The building’s curving form is reminiscent of a shuttle on the launch pad, or a surfboard standing in the sand. Images of a ship’s hull or the natural forms found in nature are associated with the Tower’s protective “shell”, while the overall arched shape alludes to the image of a rocket contrail.
Function Functional efficiency and the idea that beauty is derived through function is a characteristic that all of the stories associated with Brevard County share, from natural growth and evolution witnessed in nature to the highly sophisticated engineering associated with ship building and the Space Coast. The protective “shell” of the Exploration Tower shields the interior from the strong Florida sun, while allowing panoramic views of the Port. The tapering form of the building is designed to resist the strong ocean breezes, and the structure and circulation elements are expressed both inside and outside the building.
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Legend 1 Gift Shop 2 Lobby 3 Cafe 4 Auditorium 5 Terrace 6 Event Room 7 Kitchen 8 Mech. /Elec. 9 Exhibits 10 Work Room 11 Storage 12 Harbor Master 13 Observation
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Port Canaveral Exploration Tower
i ewf ro f rommNtohe Soest ut h VVi ew rt hw
View f r om So u th w e s t
V i ew f ro m E a st
Aeri a l v i e w fr o m N o r t hw e s t
R o o f O b ser va t i o n D ec k
Lo bby
Seco nd Fl o o r L o b b y E xhi b i t s
T hea t er
T hi rd Fl o o r E xhi b i t s
Sec o nd Fl o o r E xhi b i t s
Fi f t h Fl o o r E xhi b i t s
V i ew f ro m N o rt hea st
Design Inspiration Transience The idea of transience is seen in all of the stories associated with The Port and Brevard County from the constant movement of ships and cargo to the ever changing landscape of the beaches and natural habitats. The Exploration Tower is expressive of transience in its dynamic form, ever-changing as visitors view it from various vantage points. The interplay of shade and shadow as the sun shifts and the iridescent skin, which changes color depending on climatic conditions, further express the characteristic of transience in the design.
Imagery All of the stories associated with the Port and Brevard County share strong imagery—singular forms, striking in their beauty and indelibly fixed in one’s memory. The Exploration Tower makes metaphorical connections to the various stories in Brevard County. The building’s curving form is reminiscent of a shuttle on the launch pad, or a surfboard standing in the sand. Images of a ship’s hull or the natural forms found in nature are associated with the Tower’s protective “shell”, while the overall arched shape alludes to the image of a rocket contrail.
Function Functional efficiency and the idea that beauty is derived through function is a characteristic that all of the stories associated with Brevard County share, from natural growth and evolution witnessed in nature to the highly sophisticated engineering associated with ship building and the Space Coast. The protective “shell” of the Exploration Tower shields the interior from the strong Florida sun, while allowing panoramic views of the Port. The tapering form of the building is designed to resist the strong ocean breezes, and the structure and circulation elements are expressed both inside and outside the building.
Fl. 1
Fl. 2 1
Fl. 3 9
Fl. 4 4 6
2
3
8
N
0
8
13
13
13
Legend 1 Gift Shop 2 Lobby 3 Cafe 4 Auditorium 5 Terrace 6 Event Room 7 Kitchen 8 Mech. /Elec. 9 Exhibits 10 Work Room 11 Storage 12 Harbor Master 13 Observation
3
7
9
8
6
6
6
9
4
9
9
9
2
3
9 1
Fl. 5 9
7
Section East / West
8
8 Fl. 6 13
10
9
Section North / South
3
16
13
2
6
9
9
12
11
Fl. 7 13
13 8
0
8
16
Port Canaveral Exploration Tower
i ewf ro f rommNtohe Soest ut h VVi ew rt hw
View f r om So u th w e s t
V i ew f ro m E a st
Aeri a l v i e w fr o m N o r t hw e s t
R o o f O b ser va t i o n D ec k
Lo bby
Seco nd Fl o o r L o b b y E xhi b i t s
T hea t er
T hi rd Fl o o r E xhi b i t s
Sec o nd Fl o o r E xhi b i t s
Fi f t h Fl o o r E xhi b i t s
V i ew f ro m N o rt hea st
