Bear Den Mountain Learning Center

Client: NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) | Location: Lake Placid, New York | Completion Date: 2018 | Services Provided: Architectural, Structural Engineering, Land Surveying

Aubertine and Currier  has been providing Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying services for the expansion at the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) Bear Den Lodge in Lake Placid, NY.  The 18,000 sq. ft. new addition houses a state-of-the-art learning center, bar, and restaurant, and is part of New York State’s plan to invest up to $20 million for major upgrades at both Whiteface and Gore Mountain. 

Aubertine and Currier teamed with the ORDA and their commitment to growing their “learn to ski” facilities and programs with an expansion of the Bear Den Lodge.  The expansion includes the addition of a lounge adjacent to the current Black Bear Café with a bird's eye view of the slopes, where parents can relax and watch their budding powder hounds learn to ski and ride.  

The design was tailored to make things more efficient and flow smoother for the customer.  The rental shop location was switched with the nursery, so that when parents check their children into the nursery they can monitor where their kids are going and peek in during the day.

The lodge also has a larger ski shop allowing clients to purchase equipment and clothing at the Bear Den Lodge without having to make the trip to Whiteface Base Lodge ski shop.  Skiers and snowboarders now have better access walking inside the building from the ticket area through the rental shop and ski shop to the cafeteria, resulting in increased ski shop sales.  Previously the only way to get from the ticket area to the cafeteria was by walking outside the lodge.  The project design made it more efficient so people can get out to the slopes faster.