Sustainable Design in the Mountain Environment

To build sustainable facilities, ski resorts must balance environmental goals with the realities of operating in remote, high-alpine environments. Transportation logistics, weather conditions, utility access, and operational demands all influence how sustainable design strategies are evaluated and implemented.

These influences all played a role in the design and construction of The Nest, a new mid-mountain food-and-beverage facility at Snowbird in Utah. Designed by GSBS Architects and built over two summers, the 20,000-square-foot facility seats more than 300 guests indoors, with roughly 100 additional seats on a heated outdoor patio.