The County of San Diego is nearing completion of a new Nature Center at the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Regional Park. Located in Encinitas the facility utilizes a multitude of innovative LEED features and incorporates state-of-the art, interactive exhibits that showcase the local ecology and the environmental benefits of the LEED program.

The San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center’s goal is to increase awareness and education of the preserve and the environment. In support of this effort the building was designed to meet the Gold Certification requirements of the LEED program. The building incorporates green building elements including radiant floor heating, green planted roof, recycled cotton insulation, certified renewable lumber, photovoltaics that will provide 52% of energy requirements, natural daylighting and ventilation, stormwater filtering, native vegetation and recycled water used for both irrigation and to supply the toilets.

Perhaps more importantly, the facility will not only use a high standard of sustainable design and building materials, but will also be used as a venue to educate the public on the advantages of sustainable design. The goal for the San Elijo Visitor Center is to utilize the gold certification to educate the public on environmentally friendly building design and present a “practice what we preach” public facility, demonstrating conservation of natural resources, use of recycled and environmentally friendly construction materials and reduced pollution and water use. Interpretive signage and exhibits related to sustainability incorporate view panels in the floors, walls and ceilings that provide visitors “windows” into the internal special features of the construction, normally hidden from the naked eye. The facility will serve to promote future sustainable design in the San Diego region. Project team includes County of San Diego, Zagrodnik + Thomas, Riha Construction, PinnacleOne, Solterra and GLUMAC

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