Montezuma Audubon Center
Beardsley provided design services for this new 5,200 SF nature center at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. The building serves as a learning center to teach visitors about the wetland/grassland ecology of Montezuma.
The building’s space is divided up into a large exhibit area, classroom, nature store, office area, auditorium, kitchen, storage area, and meeting room. Site development included a bus turnaround, trailhead, parking lot, staging area, and signage. Both the interior and exterior of the building are designed to blend with the natural surroundings. The interior includes glass facades and natural finishes that help “bring the outdoors indoors.”
In addition, the building received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. In order to meet the LEED requirements the following elements were included in the design:
- Reduced site disturbance to maximize open space
- Light pollution reduction
- Water use reduction and water-efficient landscaping
- Optimized energy performance
- Recycled content materials
- Local/regional materials
- Certified wood
- Low-emitting materials
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