Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Schlitz team blends learning center into its surroundings

By Brendan O'Brien

Nestled within the scenic setting of the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is a facility built to celebrate and promote the preservation of its natural surroundings.

The 36,000-square-foot Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center, designed by The Kubala Washatko Architects and built by The Jansen Group, strikes at the core meaning of sustainable-design principles and environmentally sound construction.

The two-story learning center is made up of a 175-seat auditorium, a hearth room and instructional and administration facilities.

"There is a great hall — a reception area that these large cedar timbers are in," said Wayne Reckard, director of business development at Kubala Washatko. "The whole point of the project was to demonstrate sustainability in various ways."

One of those ways was with the project site, which was a gravel parking lot. The plot was chosen for its sunny location and to take advantage of natural ventilation created by Lake Michigan breezes.

"There was a tremendous amount of thought that went into how the building was sited, how it was constructed and what type of materials were used inside and out," Reckard said.

The main columns of the structure are made from trees donated from the Aldo Leopold Foundation.

"We also took some trees down from the site itself and had volunteers peel them and prep them," said Monique Charlier, project manager with The Jansen Group.

One of the main purposes of the structure's large, inviting porches was to memorialize Leopold and his ecologic ideals.

"There was a symbolic gesture there in helping people understand who he was and what his ideas were," Reckard said. "It drove the design since we had these logs and wanted to find a way to use them."

The porches also provide a smooth transition between the exterior and interior of the structure.

"It helps dematerialize the building," Reckard said. "It helps break up the apparent mass of the building."

Architects also took advantage of natural light throughout the facility. They studied the region's sunlight and angled the facility to maximize available light. About 70 percent of the rooms have access to natural light, and 90 percent of the rooms have a line of sight to the outside.

"The long axis of the building takes advantage of both the southern and northern exposures," Reckard said. "It is a really good learning and working environment with exposure to the outside light."

	Project Name: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center Location: Bayside Submitting Companies: The Kubala Washatko Architects Inc., Cedarburg, and The Jansen Group Inc., Milwaukee General Contractor/Construction Manager: The Jansen Group Inc. Architect: The Kubala Washatko Architects Inc. Engineers: Harwood Engineering, Milwaukee, structural engineer; North Shore Engineering Inc., Mequon, civil engineer Owner: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center Project Cost: $5.6 million Start Date: November 2001 Completion Date: April 2003

The construction and design team put a strong emphasis on recycling during construction. The contractor worked closely with WasteCap Wisconsin and was able to recycle 70 percent of waste materials produced at the site.

"It was a very extensive recycling program," Charlier said. "It meant breaking of habits and changing the way you have done it forever. Everyone was very cooperative."

The construction team also installed a geothermal heating and cooling system throughout the building. It taps groundwater from about 80 wells dug hundreds of feet below the surface, reducing the amount of energy needed to control the building's interior climate.

And the finished product was a source of pride for the entire team.

"I think this project was a great experience for everyone," Charlier said.