Peace Arch Port of Entry

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is redeveloping one of the busiest ports of entry along the northern U.S. border, serving Seattle and Vancouver and uniquely sited between Semiahmoo Bay and the international Peace Arch Park.

The design is conceived as an integral part of the larger landscape balancing civic and national symbol with the historic Peace Arch monument at its center. As a response to the sensitive natural setting and constrained site, the preliminary design concept places the large vehicular area below a landscaped roof cut into the sloped site. The building and primary canopy are accentuated as a single linear element - an expression of the border line itself.

The landscape topography and vegetation connect north and south with a visual and symbolic gesture reaching through the building toward the Peace Arch and south to the United States. Landforms extend and accentuate the existing organic forms in contrast with the building, enhancing and reinforcing the surrounding context.

Peace Arch will be LEED certified at the silver level and is designated as a GSA Design Excellence project subject to the Federal government's highest standards of design and functional performance. Following an extensive master plan and feasibility study the project is currently in schematic design.