Project Overview

The Flagler Eco-Discovery Center reimagines a 23-acre waterfront site as a place of learning, restoration, and community life. A conceptual 11,463 square-foot, $13 million facility designed by PQH Group Design, the project integrates architecture and landscape into a single, immersive experience that reflects Flagler’s ecology and identity.

Three sculptural coquina-inspired volumes rise from the land, representing the county’s geological foundation and cultural legacy. Above them, a lightweight modular canopy, inspired by palm fronds, beehive geometry, and the tensile strength of a spider web, unites the structures while providing shade, evaporative cooling, and a sense of continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The site extends the visitor experience through:

• Pollinator gardens and lakefront boardwalks connecting people and habitat
• Educational trails and outdoor classrooms promoting hands-on learning
• Event lawns and gathering spaces encouraging civic and cultural activity
• Phased expansion zones allowing for long-term program growth

Design Approach

Rooted in LEED® principles and local materiality, the design embodies sustainability, resilience, and accessibility. Every architectural gesture carries an ecological purpose, transforming the site itself into a tool for environmental education.

Key design drivers include:

• Locally sourced coquina and native landscaping reducing embodied energy
• Passive ventilation and daylighting strategies enhancing comfort and efficiency
• Net-zero-ready infrastructure enabling renewable integration
• Modular construction systems ensuring long-term flexibility and maintenance ease

Together, architecture and landscape operate as an ecosystem of learning, blurring the boundary between built and natural environments.

Impact

The Flagler Eco-Discovery Center serves as a living extension of Flagler County’s identity, crafted from its land, designed for its people, and built to inspire environmental and civic pride. As a catalyst for education, tourism, and sustainability, it strengthens the community’s role as a model for ecological innovation in Florida and beyond.