This new, 2-story, 8,158 square foot Nature Center was designed to achieve LEED^® Silver Certification in keeping with the natural setting of this 66-acre park. The building is on an existing slope overlooking Killens Pond and includes a walk-out lower level, a first floor lobby and gallery space with two outdoor decks, a rain collection trough and other related facilities. The building features a slab-on-grade, cast-in-place concrete retaining walls, and steel frame construction with shallow foundations.  Site features included an entry drive, a drop-off zone, parking for 40 to 50 cars and 5 to 6 school buses, service area, pedestrian walkways, and other outdoor spaces.

• Rainwater collection cistern to reduce potable water requirements.
• Recycling of trees removed in order to accommodate the building into construction material for projects throughout the park.
• Limited area of site disturbance and enhanced sediment erosion controls implemented during construction.
• Site design took advantage of existing trees to shade the new building and parking area.
• Composting toilet system to reduce environmental impact.