Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is a stunning 7,900 square-foot building and 23-acre site in Penobscot Homeland atop Lookout Mountain created to welcome the global public to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine. Tekαkαpimək is a Penobscot language word for “as far as one can see”. Architectural, landscape and exhibition designs for Tekαkαpimək resulted from a uniquely collaborative process with the Wabanaki Nations – comprised of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Nations. Legal protections for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property shared in this process are a critical innovation of the project.
The building’s design trajectory shifted from one of a colonial lens to one based on Wabanaki sensibilities, with site design informed by the four directions and deploying curvature throughout. Nature illuminates the interior of the building: punched windows at various heights set within thick walls and large expanses of bird-safe glass facing the four cardinal directions provide a dynamic play of light across the interiors. Three fireplaces, combined with the Douglas fir interior, provide warmth and comfort for visitors.
State-of-the-art green technology in the building demonstrates a significantly reduced carbon footprint relative to other buildings of its scale. Tekαkαpimək utilizes local materials in every possible instance, is fully off-grid, solar and thermal powered, and maximizes passive design strategies for heating and cooling. Innovative use of nominal lumber casts a light on the emerging sustainable bio-economy.
Tekαkαpimək features vistas across the rugged landscape of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, while remaining hidden from explorers below. An eastern lookout and gathering circle allow visitors to greet the day’s first light, reflecting Wabanaki traditions – the “People of the Dawn.” Tekαkαpimək’s waysides and exhibits orient visitors to the monument through Wabanaki artistry, honoring the past and showing vibrant communities moving sustainably into the future.
Upon entering the building, one meets sweeping westward vistas toward Katahdin, meaning “greatest mountain” in the Penobscot language. A south wing captures the warm and ever-changing light of the sun, passively heating and illuminating. The north holds a gathering space and reminds visitors to look skyward in this International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Near the eastern entry door is a fitting welcome area and, in the center, one can experience all directions converging in balance.
An early and impactful element of the design was to create deep walls.
These walls serve as structure and seating, while offering framed views and areas to display content. The seemingly random placement of the handmade columns is based on a 12′ structural grid. Infill columns provide additional support and create 2′ deep bays of varying widths. Each bay can contain various functions based on the programmatic needs, keeping the main floor space clear.
Nature illuminates the interior of the building. Punched windows at various heights set within the thick walls and large expanses of bird-safe glass facing the four cardinal directions provide a dynamic play of light across the interiors throughout the day and throughout the year. Three fireplaces, combined with the Douglas fir interior and abundant natural light, create a sense of warmth that will invite reflection and provide comfort for monument visitors seeking refuge from the elements.
