Situated on 185 acres along the shores of Lake Michigan, the new Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center opened to the public in May of 2003. This beautiful 39,000 square foot “green” facility is one of the most environmentally-sensitive buildings in the nation.

We were commissioned to design a building that preserves the natural sanctuary of the site and educates the public about sustainability and the natural world.

The building employs a stable, well-insulated, massive, and self-shading shell. This long-lasting and energy-efficient building design helps create an ‘energy flywheel’ to keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter. Supplemental heating and cooling is provided by a geothermal heat pump, and stormwater is collected in an outdoor rain garden. A roof-mounted 10kw photovoltaic system provides up to 8% of facility energy needs, and low-flow plumbing and landscape management practices reduce water usage.