Building Entrance
This view shows the main entrance to The Reach. The building boasts a Great Hall, Permanent and Temporary Exhibit Galleries, Classrooms, a Gift Shop, and Café.

Garden Terrace
This artist’s rendering shows the east end of the building, facing Columbia Point, the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers. To further explore the setting, visitors can walk outdoors directly onto the terrace overlooking a shrub-steppe garden. The goal of the Garden Terrace is interpretation of the shrub-steppe ecosystem and identification of local geographic features and history.

Great Hall
The 13,000-square-foot Great Hall welcomes and orients visitors to the interpretive center and the greater Mid-Columbia Basin. A monumental wall of Columbia River basalt forms the east flank of the Great Hall. Glass on thewest and south ends invite dramatic views of the Yakima wetlands and Columbia River. Two interactive kiosks contain 50-inch touchscreens that will orient visitors geographically to Columbia Point, the Hanford Reach National Monument, and the region.

The interpretive floor, wall, and ceiling elements suggest the timeless movement of water, rock, plants, wildlife, and humans through the Columbia Basin environment. Overhead, sculptural objects suggest a flowing river of time. As visitors pass through the hall they step into discreet sound zones, where they hear the rush of river rapids, snippets of native fishermen, the sweep of winds over the shrub-steppe.

Sun shades will be used on the east, west, and south elevations of the Great Hall to increase the building’s energy efficiency and reduce glare. The Great Hall will be rented for weddings, receptions, and holiday parties. Revenue from event rentals will provide operating income for the facility.

Permanent Exhibit Gallery
From a second floor mezzanine, visitors can look down onto the Great Hall and see the entrance to the Permanent Exhibit Gallery.

Café
A bistro-style, full-service café will be located on the north end of the building with windows offering views of the Yakima Delta. Outside access to patio dining is available through six sets of double doors. The kitchen will be available for catering special events at The Reach.

Outdoor Classroom
This small amphitheatre of bench-framed lawn terraces seats approximately 40 people and will be used for outdoor lectures and educational activities, especially for children. The Outdoor Classroom provides broad views of the Yakima River wetlands.