Cascade Meadows Wetlands & Environmental Science Center
November 30th, 2010 | Project Showcase | Cemstone, ICF Construction, MN, Project Showcase, xLerator
Living Case Study Tour
Last week we were invited to a special grand opening of the Cascade Meadows Center up in Rochester, MN along with Cemstone. We were able to sit through presentations on what made this project unique, the design principles around it, and the unique construction materials and used to construct a building that’s sole purpose is to educate and teach children on new and innovative ways to save energy and conserve resources. (View previous blog on the Cascade Meadows Center )
There was the full array of solar power, photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, radiant floors, geothermal heat loop, as well as passive day lighting with a beautiful view (or it will be once the wetlands grows).
A couple of highlights I heard was that the geothermal uses the ground water from the lake next to the building, to pump through the system for the heating and cooling. Its a continuous cycle that will occur every day as its below the freeze line for the water. Also, the aggregate mix for the concrete in the ICF wall all came from the lake as well as they were digging it out to expand the wetland, they pumped all the sediment to the nearby ready mix facility and they in turn used it for the concrete mix design! Hows that for regional materials!
Sustainable Strategies
Numerous strategies were in place for the construction of the Cascade Meadows Center. The site and the design was based all around the concept of water, deliberately using the form of water and the natural watersheds in the area. The construction manger identified 5 different strategies for Storm water management.Some other notable features:
- Insulating concrete forms and sips were used for the walls and roof line respectively, along with hollow plank floors.
- Basement ceilings stuck out of the ground and had green roofs on them
- Roof overhang served as a rainwater harvesting system to ruse for non-potable uses, fire mitigation, and or to send back to the lake.
They used the integrated design approach to get the general contractor, owners and the architect all involved from the initial phase in order to make decisions together so construction will go smoothly and so the owner would be satisfied with his building.
Insulating Concrete Form Nature Center Pictures
Here is a selection of photos from the Cascade Meadows Science Center, one showing the construction phase and the other showing the exterior completed from the front. There are so many elements to this nature center I want to share in later posts, including the thought process behind the design of the building and highlights from the construction waste recycling program they implemented, as well as some of the interior displays and goals the center has for the public.
More photos viewable at banksphotos.com
Come back soon for further posts on this project.
