herbert h. bateman educational and administrative center

MEB constructed this 20,000 SF center for the US Fish & Wildlife Service as two elevated wood and steel framed buildings supported on wood piles with concrete grade beams. The completed facility won the Department of the Interior’s Federal Energy and Water Management Award. Accommodating more than 400,000 visitors a year, the center houses administrative, educational, research, and lab areas, as well as a gift shop, a 150 seat auditorium, over 5000 SF of interior exhibits, and exterior interpretive hubs set up along three trails with an exterior boardwalk that leads visitors into the park.  The eco-friendly design was constructed to LEED Gold standards, incorporating various sustainability practices and energy-efficient technologies. Geothermal energy provides heating and cooling while floor and ceiling materials are made from recycled or renewable materials, such as tire rubber, cork, bamboo, and aspen wood. Solar panels provide surplus energy and the roof is made of recycled zinc.