Site-specific design has to begin from the place, selecting materials that resonate with the context, history, and resources of the region. Part of the new 8,000-acre Oregon State Park, the Cottonwood Canyon Experience Center was designed to create a destination in the remote central Oregon canyon. Rooting the Center in the place began by selecting a challenging but important material: Juniper. An invasive and abundant species in Central Oregon, Juniper does not enjoy a fond reputation—the current public and private landowner response has been to cut, pile, and burn the trees. Studies show a decreased number of animals, birds, and butterflies where Juniper propagates. In a dry landscape, water is paramount—and Juniper trees steal a lot of it. Juniper growth has also been shown to significantly increase soil erosion. Despite the challenges, Seattle-based architecture firm Signal Architecture + Research and the Oregon State Parks Forever aimed to use as much Juniper as possible, to set an example of how beautiful the wood could be and what a resource it could be to the community. The architects collaborated with forestry management to build a market example. The wood was used on the interior and exterior of the Experience Center, as well as for signage and fencing. The wood used for the signage and fencing was sourced from the private lands of Earl Mortimer, near Mitchell, Oregon, about ninety miles from the new State Park. The majority of the wood, however, was sourced through Kendall Derby of “In the Sticks: Sawmill, Kiln & Lumber Warehouse” located in Fossil, Oregon, a mere 45 miles from the park. Specializing in Juniper milling, Derby was able to work with the challenging species. The wood is prone to movement, driven by the presence of knots, the taper of the grain, and the pitch. The finest timbers are free of heart center (FOHC), have a straight grain, and limited knot size. As a generally small diameter tree with a propensity for knots and lots of tapering, Juniper does not compare well to traditional timbers—it, therefore, is not structural, clear, or quarter sawn. The result of the extra effort is a humble structure in contextual and material alignment with the place. The color of the building blends into the Canyon effortlessly, emanating a sense of belonging. Oregon State Park’s hope for the Experience Center was facilitating interpretation—communication going beyond information, revealing what things mean and why they matter—to connect people to the place. The material used to create the space in which visitors stand is not merely beautiful, it is meaningful, and it brings up a story of history, habit, and research, and innovation. In this way, Signal created a facility nestled in the Canyon in several ways, both inviting to visitors and familiar to locals. Connecting visitors with local natural resources in tangible ways is a means to help root and connect the community today, and to set a course towards a community of the future. Plus, closely related to aromatic cedar, the wood smells beautiful on the interior. The Experience Center will serve Oregon State Parks as a capstone gathering place amongst the rich scenic landscape of Central Oregon, connecting stories of history with programming and outdoor experiences for future generations. At the heart of Signal’s practice is a commitment to designing for the specificity of the place—this meant selecting materials that resonated with the texture, history, and natural resources of the Canyon, and creating a place that is at home in its context.