This is White Deer Park Nature Center’s second recognition after being awarded the LEED Gold certification recently. The centre, designed by RATIO Architects, is notable for its sustainability, design and educational features.
Spanning 2,500 square feet, Nature Centre is located in a park that was once a blueberry farm. The building resembles a traditional agricultural shed with its roof inspired by a barn. Architects were inspired by the history of the site for the centre’s design. The design was modelled after a roadside fruit stand.
The Nature Center is made of local recycled and renewable materials. It also features a system for utilising rain water to flush toilets and uses solar panels on the roof to aid in heating the building’s water. Thermal mass in the flooring allows for the collection of solar energy, and two large cisterns collect water for irrigation. In addition, the design team salvaged wood from a homestead located on the property and repurposed it to create the Nature Center’s floor.
The centre was opened in November 2010 as the centerpiece of the $4.2 million, 96-acre park off Buffaloe Road.
Woodworks is an initiative by Wood Products Council, which offers information on the use of wood in non-residential structures. Nominations in the green building category were judged on the basis of how wood was utilised to reduce energy use and how wood allows for efficient use of resources as well as overall environmental impact.
