Kenai River Center

The world famous Kenai River is known for abundant stocks of trophy class King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden. Chartered sports fishing with record size fish and a well established commercial salmon fishery depend on this river for their livelihoods. In addition, Alaskan residents depend on this river for their personal use fishery. There is an ever growing demand for the fish resources and this places stress on the river system and accompanying tributaries. Habitat preservation is of critical importance and is assisted by multi-agency groups including the Federal Government, State, Kenai Peninsula Borough and the Kenai River Advisory Committee. K+A was selected to orchestrate bringing these multiple agencies together within one facility to assist the public by providing one stop permitting, river bank restoration assistance, habitat preservation information, meeting space and an education center. This assignment required working with the participating government offices in reaching a consensus on how best to address each of their needs in one building. K+A’s cornerstone approach to programming and design resulted in a 9,721 square foot facility that is at the leading edge of wild river preservation and a center where multiple agencies have access to one another as well as being readily accessible to the public.  The center includes planning for future growth and a running river aquarium exhibit. K+A designed the center to blend into the surrounding environment with outdoor areas that host habitat fund-raising events and nature trails.