Beardsley Architects + Engineers is pleased to announce that the new visitors center at Sterling Nature Center in Sterling, NY, has been selected by the American Public Works Association to receive a 2024 Structures/Facilities Project of the Year Award from both the Central New York branch and the New York State chapters. The award recognizes public works projects that exhibit exemplary partnerships between the owner, architects and engineers, and the contractor.
Sterling Nature Center, a 1,400-acre county park and nature preserve located on the shores of Lake Ontario, welcomes more than 35,000 visitors each year and provides diverse programming to visitors including seasonal events, curation, a blue heron rookery, and nine miles of trails. Working with a design committee from Sterling Nature Center, the Friends of Sterling Nature, and Cayuga County, Beardsley designed a new facility that expands Nature Center programming and provides a better experience for visitors.
As visitors enter the building from the parking area, they are greeted by the reception desk where they can speak with Nature Center staff. The entry area also has space for a small Nature Center store, educational programming, and casework to display important pieces of the Nature Center’s collection. Staff office and storage space is located adjacent to the reception area in the center of the building. The office and storage space also divides the otherwise open interior, creating a separate, large multi-purpose gathering area, which is used for educational programs and other events. The building also includes three accessible gender-neutral restrooms, a breakroom, and a small kitchenette for staff. Large timber trusses frame the interior vaulted ceiling as well as large exterior overhangs, evoking an architectural style that speaks to the community’s rich farming history and blends with the surrounding landscape.
Site improvements include an outdoor classroom, parking upgrades, bioretention areas and rain gardens to protect Lake Ontario and an on-site pond from contaminants, an upgraded pavilion for outdoor events, bird watching areas, and connection to the existing trail system. Additional improvements were also made to the trail network and to an existing emergency/service vehicle access roadway.