Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, Md.
Award of Merit-Green Project
The 125,000-sq-ft Robinson Nature Center is a three-story structure built into a hillside. It is currently on track to become one of three LEED-Platinum buildings in the state of Maryland. The $11-million project's interior includes interactive and multisensory exhibits, a large discovery room, a 150-seat auditorium, classrooms and meeting rooms, a 50-seat planetarium and a balcony. The center employs the latest green technologies to increase energy conservation, such as a green roof, an underground geothermal heating/cooling system and solar panels. Other elements of the project entailed building a new entrance road, a parking lot for 178 vehicles and outdoor nature trails.
Key Players
Owner: Howard County Government, Columbia, Md.
General Contractor: Forrester Construction Co., Rockville, Md.
Construction Manager: KCI Technologies, Rockville, Md.
Lead Designer: GWWO Inc./Architects, Baltimore
Submitted by: Forrester Construction Co., Rockville, Md.
