NatureMaker

This past year NatureMaker teamed with architecture firm, CSHQA, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the National Park Service to produce a unique environment for the Fresno’s air travelers. Read magazine article or watch video 

As Fresno’s population base continues to grow, so has the need for more comprehensive air service. FYI was therefore tasked to improve its terminal facility to serve the projected needs of its domestic and international travelers for the next twenty years. Rather than settling for a conventional Terminal remodel and expansion, the Airport sought to integrate the nearby, world renowned natural attractions into its design. In presenting itself as “The Gateway City to Three National Parks”, both Fresno and its Airport would attain national and international stature. “The Sense of Place” project, as envisioned by FYI, was intended to create a memorable experience for its passengers that would attract more airlines, increase the number of daily flights, boost regional tourism, and improve the city’s image.

NatureMaker’s contribution includes a series of 25’ tall sequoia trees, growing from floor to skylight, that not only wrap the columns, but also create the most immediate visual impact. A walk-through sequoia, cladding two of the columns, is evocative of the famous Wawona Tree in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove. The adjacent smaller sequoia, pine, and fir trees, coupled with fallen logs, tree stumps, charred trunks, and ground forms, fully capture the essential tranquility and persistence of life in the High Sierra. Read full case study