Fernald Preserve

Hamilton, Ohio
The Fernald Preserve Visitors Center, Ohio’s first LEED Platinum certified building, celebrates the rich and varied history of the Fernald site. A series of exhibits presents information pertaining to the site’s storied past as well as the recent ecological restoration and legacy management mission. Upon completion of the original exhibit, Fernald Preserve’s management team discovered an unsuccessful component and hired Swath to redesign the Visitor Center lobby’s focal point: an 18-foot-tall informational tower that offers insight into the construction and purpose of the preserve’s imposing On-Site Disposal Facility (OSDF). Working closely with Fernald Preserve’s Legacy Management group, Swath created a fact-filled, intuitive display, capturing the hidden functions of the 3,700-foot long mound. The design result was a comprehensive learning tool, clarifying and strengthening the original exhibit component, making it the cornerstone of the entry space.