Grand Haven is a popular summer tourist attraction along Lake Michigan. The city has been very sensitive about its riverfront development. However, the transition between the river walk and the historic downtown district has been overlooked. This proves to be problematic for the retailers in the downtown area, because potential customers stay along the riverfront. During tourist off-season, the riverfront and downtown are not very populated. This project looks towards a way to make a transition between the riverfront and downtown while also providing a stimulus to enliven the site year round.

A hands-on discovery center has been proposed to activate the site. Volumetrically, the building in conjunction with the other Washington Avenue buildings serves as a visual threshold from the riverfront into the city. The building focuses on warmth in order to make the building more appealing during the harsh winter months. The discovery center is a place for school children field trips during the school year, which is also the tourist off-season. There are additional year-round uses, such as restaurants, outdoor dining, a plaza, play areas, classrooms, and offices, which provide attractions for a year-round appeal.