Originally completed in 1995, the Hoover Dam Visitor Center is a multi-level facility featuring a Theater Level, Exhibit Level, and Observation Level. While the Theater Level was successfully rehabilitated in 2019, the Exhibit Level—critical to the visitor experience—had begun to show significant signs of wear. Cracked stone flooring, chipped stair treads, matted carpet, faded finishes, and general deterioration had compromised the space’s functionality and appearance, despite regular maintenance.
In 2020, LGA Architecture was engaged by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to reimagine and renovate the Exhibit Level, building upon the 2019 upgrades while addressing the aging materials and outdated storytelling elements. The goal: create a refreshed, immersive, and educational experience that re-centers the Hoover Dam’s significance through compelling design and interpretation.
LGA partnered with AldrichPears Associates (APA), a nationally recognized interpretive planning and exhibit design firm. Together, the team developed a unified architectural and interpretive vision for the remodel. Through a series of collaborative workshops with BOR, two overarching interpretive themes emerged:
- Flowing Waters – exploring the power and importance of the Colorado River and its water cycle.
- Who Built It – honoring the resilience and contributions of the workers, families, and communities who made the dam possible.
These themes guided three core visitor experiences:
- Immersion – Multi-sensory exhibits that place visitors inside the dam’s story, using audio, video, tactile elements, and environmental effects to recreate the physical forces at play.
- Perspective – Interactive scaled models and media-rich displays that help visitors grasp the dam’s immense scale, complexity, and innovation.
- Participation – Engaging experiences that invite visitors to step into the shoes of Hoover Dam builders through recreated environments, hands-on props, and even themed photo opportunities.
The architecture itself plays an essential role in enhancing these experiences. A new 600-square-foot vestibule addition introduces a dramatic entry sequence, where visitors encounter a stream-like ribbon of blue terrazzo underfoot and video walls that depict flowing water. A ramp gently leads into the first exhibit, setting the stage for the dam’s origin story. Visitors continue through a sound-and-light construction passageway that simulates building the dam before entering the main gallery. There, two distinct exhibit zones explore How the Dam Was Built and How It Works. Visitors conclude their journey in a renovated lobby with new retail space, restrooms, and access to the Observation Level.
In total, the project transformed approximately 9,900 square feet and included the addition of new staff offices on the Mezzanine Level. The result is a revitalized Exhibit Level that unifies architecture and interpretation, enriches the visitor journey, and breathes new life into one of the nation’s most iconic engineering landmarks.
Giovanni Pezzi, Assoc. AIA
