Bear Den Mountain Learning Center

Aubertine and Currier (A&C) provided Architectural, Structural Engineering, and Land Surveying services for the expansion at the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) Bear Den Lodge near Lake Placid, NY. The 18,000 sf new addition houses a state-of-the-art learning center, bar, and restaurant. A&C teamed with ORDA in their commitment to grow their “learn to ski” facilities and programs throughout the expansion project.  The venture included the addition of a lounge adjacent to the current Black Bear Café where a bird's eye view of the slopes allows parents to relax and watch their budding powder hounds learn to ski and ride.

The project design was tailored to be well-organized and to create a more efficient traffic flow, thereby helping the patrons to get out onto the slopes faster. The rental shop location was switched with the nursery area allowing parents after check-in to monitor their children’s location, and to look in on them throughout the day. The size of the Ski Shop was increased to permit clients to purchase equipment and clothing at the Bear Den Lodge without having to make the trip to the Whiteface Base Lodge Ski Shop. An inside corridor was created for skiers and snowboarders between the ticket area, rental shop, and ski shop to the cafeteria which was previously only accessible from the outside.