Environmental Science Education Center

The Building

  • The Environmental Science Education Center has 17,500 square feet of interior space covering two floors. It is constructed of stone, concrete, wood, glass, and steel.
  • The 1,050-square-foot observation deck is nestled in the treetops to allow a bird’s eye view of nature.
  • Two large laboratory classrooms support the 4-H Center’s Environmental Field School, along with a shared laboratory preparatory area. Both laboratories have direct access to the outdoors allowing youth to explore outside and then come inside to laboratories filled with technical and audiovisual support.
  • A large, multifunction room seating 350 people and three seminar rooms are available for classes, meetings, and conferences.

Sustainable Architecture

  • Sustainable architecture is a term used to describe a building that by its design, construction, and operation makes a minimal draw on nonrenewable resources and gives high priority to respect for the environment. Other terms used to describe sustainable architecture include high performance, green, and resource efficient.
  • The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Design and construction of the facility employ a range of LEED-based and other recognized sustainable design strategies.
  • To attain gold LEED certification, buildings are required to achieve a total of 39 points—the Alabama 4-H Environmental Science Education Center will apply for 45 points.
  • This facility is a living, learning center and a unique model for environmental sensitivity, education, and awareness.

LEED Specifics

  • The Environmental Science Education Center is the first planned gold-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) environmental science education building in the eastern United States and the first planned gold LEED building in Alabama.
  • The Environmental Science Education Center is the first planned gold-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) environmental science education building in the eastern United States and the first planned gold LEED building in Alabama.
  • Water collected from the building's roof flow through Visy filters and is stored in a water retention tank for use in flushing toilets in the building and for use in the fire protection sprinkler system. The water retention tank, which holds more than 11,000 gallons of water, ensures that the facility will not be a draw on the water needs in the area. The building’s landscape features are primarily indigenous requiring little irrigation.
  • The lobby’s natural slate flooring and Alabama sandstone walls reflect nature. The overhang of the sloped roof takes advantage of the sun to light the lobby but limits direct light into the building except through green-tinted glass thus limiting the sun’s bright rays inside the building.
  • Throughout the building, occupancy sensors optimize lighting efficiency. The lights use a sensor to automatically dim or brighten when passed.
  • Decorative acoustical panels in the main floor hallway provide maximum sound efficiency. They feature OSB wood, and a grid of aluminum adds an interesting focal point. Wall coverings in the multifunction room and seminar rooms are made of recycled materials, as is the carpet.
  • On the ground level, the floors are made of recycled vinyl tile in the hallway and display area, concrete in the laboratory areas, and recycled carpet in the administrative area. The laboratory cabinets are made from wheat board.

Architects

  • Davis Architects, Birmingham, Alabama

Contractor

  • B. L. Harbert International, Birmingham, Alabama

Consultant

  • Commissioning & Green Building Services, LLC, Buford, Georgia