Over 1.4 million people visit the Rock each year to see the infamous
hole, take in stunning views of the San Francisco bay area, and to see
the home of the world’s most legendary prisoners. Rising from the
terrain of the island, a series of spaces are fashioned in a logical
continuous form to create an informative hub that addresses the
complexities of visiting the site.
Once you arrive at the docks you are
guided up a serene path that plugs directly into your first destination
where you can wait for guided tours or mosey through the gallery and
grab a bite to eat at Al ‘Scarface’ Capone’s cafe . The Yard invites
visitors to learn about the diverse history of the prison and to
discover the many rare flowers and plants, marine wildlife, and
thousands of birds that call Alcatraz home.
The materiality of The Yard
reflects the hard exterior of the existing prison and surrounding
buildings of the 19th century. Rising to various heights the new
visitor’s center connects to the assortment of existing paths spread
across the island. Welcome to Alcatraz, this is The Yard, discover the
rock.
