World Birding Center Headquarters
"Green Design" Features
Site:
- Gardens- Restoration of habitat is the primary focus of the visitor’s center grounds.
- Flooded Habitat Garden - The first garden encountered in the visitor sequence is the flooded habitat garden, which exhibits the characteristics of the natural flooded Resaca environment, which once dominated the area. Flooding events should occur periodically and as often as once a week. This garden area is intended for use by wildlife, primarily birds. Dense vegetation will provide cover for birds and screen pedestrian activity. Large windows of the Exhibit space look over this space in addition to the porches and tram waiting area.
- Activities Garden - It shades gatherings of small groups. It could serve as a school group orientation area or as a break out area for use in conjunction with the Multi-use Room, which looks out over this space.
- Events Court - This final garden space will serve as a collection area for large events. It is designed as an open lawn surrounded by vegetations and punctuated vertically by Sabal Palm Trees. It is situated adjacent to the service drive and catering kitchen for such events. It is sized to accommodate large shade tents.
- Rainwater Systems- Large metal cistern tanks collect water from the roofs. Each of the 18 tanks is capable of storing 2,625 gallons of water. These tanks are located to collect as much rainwater from the roof as possible.
- Guzzler Systems-Three of the 18 tanks will provide water to the guzzler water features. These guzzlers exhibit different ways to provide water to a habitat. These features are critical to bringing birds and butterflies into the garden areas.
- Porches- Extensive use of brick paved porches allow for shaded external circulation, gathering, and connections to the garden spaces. Deep porches on the South, east, and west facades shield interior spaces from direct sunlight.
- Outdoor Lighting- Exterior light pollution is a major problem in coastal bird habitat and flyways. All of the exterior parking and path lighting is hooded to shield light leakage to the night sky.
Visitors Center:
- Context- The buildings are designed to fit their environmental and cultural context. The forms, systems and materials relate to the agricultural vernacular, which dominates the valley’s architectural landscape.
- The structures orient parallel with the canal to catch the prevailing summer breeze. Deep porches facing south, east and west block the summer sun.
- Materials- Local brick pavers line the pathways, and interior public spaces. Clay block from D’Hanis, Texas gives color, texture, and thermal mass to exterior walls. Sinker cypress adds warmth and tactile quality along the porches. Arch panel roofing span long distances with less material while eliminating structural redundancies. Engineered wood framing materials for use on the hawk tower and blinds eliminate environmental contamination issues associated with traditional arsenic and chromium treated lumber.
- Other Sustainable Material Choices:
- Aluminum windows - 75% recycled content aluminum
- Sheathing – 100% recycled content and radiant barrier
- Engineered wood framing – arsenic & chromium free preservative ACQ
- Wood Decking – Forest Service Certified “Sustainable” IPE
- Wood Siding – Sinker Cypress for durability and long-life
- Wood Doors (Exterior) – Sinker Cypress
- Wood Doors (Interior) – Forest Service Certified (FSC) “Sustainable” Veneer. Recycled content particleboard core.
- Trellis purlins - Forest Service Certified (FSC) “Sustainable” IPE
- Windows – 75% recycled content aluminum frames w/ double insulated high-efficiency glazing. Avg. SC = .47;
- Cabinet material – 100% recycled content formaldehyde-free MDF
- Paint and Sealants- Zero to low VOC content
- Roofing – light colored reflective roofing cuts heat-gain.
- Restroom Fixtures – low flow lavatories, waterless urinals.
- Toilet Compartments – Approx. 75% recycled solid core plastic content
- Light & Mech. Louvers - 75% recycled content aluminum frame and blades, blade design to allow indirect daylight.
- Termite treatment- non-chemical termite prevention, mesh barrier
- Toilet Accessories- High efficiency hand dryers, 40% energy reduction
- Furnishings – Sinker cypress and natural mesquite benches.
- Landscape material – low water use, strictly native planting. Flooded garden habitat plant species selected for flooded environment.
- Envelope – The design incorporates a highly efficient thermal envelope, which utilizes masonry mass materials for the exposed walls. This material is highly durable and virtually maintenance free. It also provides thermal mass to slow heat gain during the high gain periods, releasing heat to the night sky. Behind this mass wall is a deep airspace and radiant barrier to repel additional heat gain before it reaches the R-19 insulated wall cavity. South facing walls are fully shaded at buildings A & C.
- The structural arch roofing encloses a large vented attic spaces, which forms a protective air buffer for the spaces below. Ceiling insulation is R-30. Large gravity vents at the ridge exhaust hot air by drawing air in from continuous vents at the eves and end gables.
- High-efficiency doors and windows incorporate double insulated glass. South, east and west facing glass is shaded.
- Mechanical Systems - High-efficiency (min. SEER-15) variable speed air-conditioning units provide better humidity control, quite operation, and greater energy efficiency. Condensation from these units may be incorporated into additional water features around the buildings. Fabric air ducts in exposed ceilings provide quite operation and more even air distribution.
- Plumbing fixtures are selected for low-water use and low maintenance. Water-less urinals eliminate water born bacteria problems. Exterior water fountains return excess water to the landscape.
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