Colorado Welcome Center

Client: City of Cortez and Cortez Chamber

Site: Cortez, Colorado

The Colorado Welcome Center, was a partial adobe structure in need of preservation and repair as well as, a new addition to increase the level of services. The Collaborative was retained to lead this project, which covered a variety of aspects. First, the existing structure needed to be evaluated, and treatments and costs itemized. Second, a new addition needed to be addressed. As part of the Design Concept for this new edition, our firm reviewed public and Welcome Center staff responses to address their needs and determine what additional services they would like to see provided. These responses were compared with the results of national tourism research that showed features found generally desirable at a visitor information center. Two design concepts that were felt to be the best options to address the needs for the building were presented at a public workshop. Drawings for the new structure and cost estimates for the plans were included. At the end of this public workshop, design concepts were revised and finalized, and the building was completed under the supervision of the Collaborative.