From its roots, EHDD has been actively engaged in shaping the conversation about sustainability and the human experience in architecture, design and urban planning. The company specializes in projects that advance society’s appreciation and access to culture, respect the user within spaces they create, and enhance the long-term quality of the world around us.

Among EHDD's notable projects is the historic Lands End Lookout Visitor Center, located in San Francisco.

Inspiring conservancy

Lands End Lookout is a collaborative effort of the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. EHDD was proud to engage with these organizations in this special conservation effort to preserve the natural resources of this historic place, including the stories of the Ohlone, Sutro’s baths and park, Playland, Merrie Way, and many more.

Perched at the edge of the continent overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Lands End Lookout draws its inspiration from the ruins of Sutro Baths nestled in the cove below. The ruins uniquely embody the building’s main theme – the intersection of nature and culture. Rising out of a coastal dune landscape, the Lookout’s concrete walls frame views and pay homage to the tension between the natural and cultural forces that have shaped the site.

Designed to withstand the harsh coastal environment, the building creates a sun-filled, sheltered courtyard that provides a welcome respite from the wind and fog along the rich network of trails. Historic relics from Sutro Heights gaze out over magnificent views of the Pacific, adding an element of whimsy to the concrete, wood and glass structure. The building invites people in, offering them a lens through which to explore the surrounding park.

As a LEED Platinum certified building, Lands End Lookout harnesses daylight, prevailing winds, and the topography to create an innovative passive design that conserves energy, water and embodied carbon.