Henry Adams provided the MEP engineering design for the new, 9,000 SF, LEED Gold environmental exploration center - The Nature Place. The facility is a destination for those who wish to learn and connect with nature through exploration, education, inspiration and conservation. The Nature Place strives to teach the next generation to be “environmental stewards.”

Features of the new center include:

• Trails through educational wetlands and habitats.
• Outdoor classroom for demonstrations such as tree planting.
• Flexible classroom spaces.
• Interactive organic community garden with wild native plants.
• Nature Play Zone, an outdoor play element where children can connect to nature.

A unique challenge of the MEP design was maximizing energy and resource efficiency via a cost-effective design in order to achieve LEED Gold certification. The mechanical design included HVAC and associated building controls. The plumbing design included sanitary, vent, and water piping. The electrical design included power, lighting, voice/data empty conduit system, and fire alarm.