This $150,000,000 research project was developed by visionary financier Edwin Bass with an original mission to develop and gather cutting-edge data on total environmental systems.

By creating a 3.15 acre "sealed biosphere" completely isolated from the outside world, a handful of researchers embarked on an adventurous—though problem-plagued—foray into understanding the delicate interdependence of biospheric systems.

McBride Co. was selected as the sole designer for the subsequent Visitor Center and Orientation Complex facilities, filmatic and live presentations, and interactive displays in Arizona's Sonoran Desert.