T he Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center auditorium is underway! Raass Brother, Inc., along with co-contractor R & O Construction, broke ground in June, and the 3,600-square-foot, 154-seat theater will open in spring 2011. The privately funded addition will complete the visitor facility and will cost $3.2 million. Over $3 million has been raised to date.

Peter Bohlin of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson will lead the same team that brought the first phase of the visitor center to life. In December 2009, Bohlin was awarded the 2010 Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the profession’s highest honor an individual can receive, and now joins other visionaries such as Thomas Jefferson, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Frank Gehry in architectural history.

The high-tech auditorium will serve as the launching point for grand experiences through an interpretive film as well as public and private evening programs. It will also reinforce existing visitor center exhibits and introduce wild Teton moments most people will never personally see. A large window, hidden behind a theatrical curtain and a retractable projection screen, will reveal the spectacular Teton Range at the conclusion of the regularly scheduled film. During a lecture or conference, the window will provide a scenic backdrop for the speaker.

As Jackson Hole’s first high-definition theater, the facility will offer tremendous flexibility through its projection, lighting, and surround-sound system. The venue will also accommodate a variety of presentation formats, including digital film and slide shows, and a caption system will assist hearing-impaired visitors. Recycled, sustainable, and energy-efficient materials will continue to be a priority for this final phase of the project.

Want to help put the finishing touch on the visitor facility? Contact Leslie Mattson at 307-732-0629.