Life Science Learning Center
The future of Columbia Springs, the Life Science Learning Center at Columbia Springs is not a typical school facility design. The building has walls and roofs but they are only the beginning of the educational activities - and even they are incorporated into the environmental education of the site. There are sod roofs, wet roofs, wet/moss walls, solar panels and micro-hydro electric generation, fish rearing and viewing opportunities. Important to the site design has been the consideration and expression of how water moves through the Columbia Springs site and how it can be treated sustainably. The design also encourages interaction between K-12 students, college students and professional scientists.
Noble energy use and mechanical system goals have been established, including net-zero energy use. Extensive use of natural ventilation, daylighting, and the thermal properties of the spring water to heat and cool the buildings will all lead to a facility that uses two- thirds less energy than a typical educational facility. In addition, a series of energy generation elements (both micro-hydro and photo-voltaic) will be in strategic locations through the site.
