St Croix Welcome Center

The new MnDOT Welcome Center on Interstate 94 serves as both a rest area and a gateway for travelers arriving in Minnesota from the east. Drawing inspiration from the St. Croix River Valley, the project replaces an aging facility with a new building and landscape that reflect the region’s natural character while providing a safe, welcoming visitor experience.

Damon Farber reimagined the site as a series of accessible, interconnected outdoor spaces, including entrance plazas, a play area, interpretive walks, picnic areas, a dog exercise zone, and a connection to the regional bicycle trail. Native prairie, woodland, and bee lawn plantings reinforce the character of the St. Croix River watershed while supporting ecological resilience and long-term performance. Working closely with MnDOT and project partners from predesign through construction, Damon Farber created a site-specific landscape that balances visitor experience, regional identity, and long-term maintenance.