Rising dramatically from the plains, the Environmental Learning Center was inspired by the geological shapes indigenous to the area as well as the environmental forces that created them. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide an uninterrupted view of the open area to the south and west as well as the foothills and Front Range Mountains. The multi-purpose facility serves the university, Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau and Colorado Department of Parks and Recreation. A visitor’s center provides tourist information displayed from crafted units and a staffed visitor information desk, while an area outside lets visitors sample various Colorado environments and students explore the center’s natural surroundings.