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Shelby Farms Park Visitor Center seen at sunset featuring a large overhanging 'front porch' overlooking fresh-cut grass
SHELBY FARMS PARK
Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
The center seen at sunrise as bright golden light hits its glass windows
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
Profile of the visitor center seen in daylight with a bright blue sky
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
A view looking towards the lake at night
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
SHELBY FARMS PARK
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
Metal angular materials seen from a 45 degree corner of the building
SHELBY FARMS PARK
Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
A view of the aluminum bar grate wrapping the edges of the exterior as patrons relax in the shade
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
The structure of glass and aluminum bar grate materials contrasted with landscaping and cloudy blue sky
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
People on bikes gather by the center before a ride in the shade of the building
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
Walkway-facing side of the center with metal and wooden accents during sunset as a couple sits on a bench by the front entrance
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
Interior shot of the center's reception and large glass windows as visitors explore the grounds
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
Custom wavy lighting feature overhands the modern gift shop comprised of painted wood, polished concrete, and large glass windows
SHELBY FARMS PARK Memphis, Tennessee (2016)
Shelby Farms Park visitor center interior photo of a man shopping for gifts
Marlon-Blackwell-Architects-Shelby-Farms-2-Gift-Shop-Angle-View_DV

Shelby Farms Park Visitor Center

Close Project

Shelby Farms Park, the largest urban park in the country, has implemented a master plan, developed by Field Operations (formerly James Corner Field Operations), to revitalize the Park into a unique, 21st century park. An ensemble of buildings and structures is located around the 80 acre Patriot Lake; together, the buildings, lake, and landscape are imaged as the “Heart of the Park.”

Marlon Blackwell Architects developed a unified architectural vision for the buildings, knitting the projects together across the broad park landscape with a shared material palette. Each building connects directly to the surrounding landscape and supports the rich experiences in Shelby Farms Park.

Centrally located, the Visitor Center is seemingly more porch than building and functions as a central meeting ground for the community. An elusive skin of aluminum bar grate gently filters sunlight while hinting at the architecture of industrial agriculture and allowing the humid Memphis air to drift in, slowly threshed by large fans hovering overhead.

LOCATION / Memphis, Tennessee
BUILDING TYPE / Master Planning + New Construction
BUILDING SIZE / 4,500 acres + 15,520 GSF
COMPLETION DATE / August 2016
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH / Field Operations

AWARDS /
+ LEED Silver Certification
+ AIA National Honor Award for Regional & Urban Design [2019]
+ Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award [2018]
+ The Plan Award: Landscape [2018]
+ World Architecture Festival Finalist: Civic & Community [2018]
+ AIA Gulf States Honor Award [2018]
+ AIA Arkansas Honor Award [2018]
+ Metal Architecture Design Award [Grand Award] [2017]
+ Memphis Business Journal Best New Construction Project (Large Projects) [2017]

Marygrove Early Education Center

Marygrove Early Education Center

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Lamplighter School Innovation Lab

Crystal Bridges Eleven Servery & Coffee Bar

Crystal Bridges Eleven Servery & Coffee Bar

Ledger City Center

Ledger City Center

Thaden School Bike Barn

Thaden School Bike Barn

Thaden School Performance Building

Thaden School Performance Building

Shelby Farms Park Structures

Shelby Farms Park Structures

Shelby Farms Park Restaurant and Event Center

Shelby Farms Park Restaurant and Event Center

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Thaden School Reels Building

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Flyrite

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University of Arkansas Steven L. Anderson Design Center

Shelby Farms Park Visitor Center seen at sunset featuring a large overhanging 'front porch' overlooking fresh-cut grass

Shelby Farms Park Visitor Center

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Tanglewood Cabin

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Montessori Elementary entrance at night

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Keenan Tower House lit up at night as it towers over trees in the forest

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Graphic House

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Exterior shot of the glass window walls and metal structure seen at sundown

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Blessings Golf Clubhouse seen at dusk lit from inside looking over the cut grass

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PORCHDOG PROTOTYPE, Biloxi, Mississippi (2009)

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Montessori Primary, Fayetteville, Arkansas (2014)

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A wooden floors, walls, and ceilings look out through glass at the concrete museum

Crystal Bridges Museum Store

The building's exterior lit from inside at dusk during a rainstorm

Gentry Public Library

Bella Vista Library

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L-Stack House

Interior airy wooden seating area below second flow overlooks with white ceiling and natural lighting

Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center

A view of the buildings beautiful white exoskeleton and night with lights shining from inside

Srygley Office Building

The Fulbright Building

The Fulbright Building

Moore HoneyHouse lit from inside at night with glowing jars of honey shining brightly through the glass

Moore Honeyhouse