The Sweetwater Marsh is the last remaining saltwater marsh habitat in Southern California. It offers resting, foraging and nesting areas for a diverse assemblage of birds, including endangered species such as the Light-Footed Clapper Rail, California Least Tern, and a multitude of other birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway.

A new Administrative Headquarters for the US Fish and Wildlife Service provides areas for collaboration and offices where in-house wildlife biologists and environmental education specialists perform work and analysis within the marsh habitat. With a very light, open design, the new building offers a connection to the inspirational landscape and takes advantage of the nearly ideal weather conditions, as well as natural daylighting, and blurring the distinction between inside and out. Part of the new 8,000 sf facility is a laboratory supporting the field work of the wildlife biologists, and a Visitor Contact Station with integral interpretation, serving as a “portal” to connect with nature; enhancing the visitor experience and increasing usage of the Refuge’s trails.

Design is of its time and place - materials and architectural elements are expressed honestly. Concern of views offsite support buildings that are in harmony with the land. Effort has been made to contain the new development within existing areas of human disturbance so as not to disturb the sensitive site. Downward-angled glass influences the architecture in pursuit of the goal of mitigating bird strikes on building windows.

Building design and specification of systems is highly influenced by site forces and the goal of resource conservation, and includes utilization of a 30 kw photovoltaic array, proper solar orientation, natural daylighting, active and passive heating and cooling techniques, and waterharvesting. LEED Silver certification is anticipated for this project, and construction started June 2010.