Burkett & Wong Engineers' LEED Platinum project receives peer recognition
Encinitas, CA – The San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certified project, recently received further recognition for its significance as a civil engineering example of progressive design and ingenuity. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), San Diego Section, awarded Burkett & Wong Engineers the Outstanding Building and Structure Project Award.
The new 5,600 square-foot Nature Center is twice the size of the one it replaces yet remains within the previous building's footprint. The LEED Platinum building is a model for sustainable design and responsible construction, protecting nearby wetlands and habitat. With interactive, high-tech educational exhibits, the center teaches visitors about the local history, habitat and ecology as well as global environmental protection. Civil engineering sustainable design included providing recycled water to the site, incorporating low impact site design with a stormwater detention system and biofiltration for stormwater quality. The building and its associated grading and utilities were designed to avoid disturbing adjacent wetlands, to minimize the impact on native habitat, and to accommodate multiple existing utilities and easements. Over 90% of demolition and construction waste was diverted from landfills while significant use of recycled materials throughout the building reduced the impact of new construction. Building and site features which minimized the project's carbon footprint include a green roof, roof coatings to reflect heat, solar panels, recycled water for irrigation and plumbing, radiant heating, and abundant use of natural light with windows and solar tubes.
The new nature center improves upon the old center by providing many more educational displays, increased indoor and outdoor spaces for group functions, and improved office, laboratory and storage areas for County staff. Interactive educational displays highlight the local watershed and the impacts that surrounding communities have on it. The public is educated on how they can both contribute to and prevent erosion and pollution from the beginning of the watershed until it outlets to the ocean. Many users including schools, bird watchers, hikers, neighbors and conservancy groups use and pass through the nature center on their way to the lagoon and its trails. The San Elijo Nature Center is now a true gateway for the public to learn about and access the lagoon and its abundant plant, animal and aquatic species.
A myriad of challenges faced the design and construction team due to the delicate ecology of the surrounding lagoon. The adjacent wetlands are home to endangered species, sensitive native habitat and plant species. The building, surrounding hardscape, and landscape were designed to minimize disturbance of native plant and animal species and a Native Indian archeological resource site. As such the new building was constrained to fit within the previous building's footprint, while complementing the adjacent geography and topography by blending into the vegetation and cliffs surrounding it. The building and site design required review by, coordination with and approval from community workshops, the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department and eight other local and state agencies. Construction was scheduled around the California Gnatcatcher breeding seasons. The project achieved LEED Platinum certification despite these constraints, a tight budget and an aggressive schedule.
Burkett & Wong Engineers provided civil engineering and surveying services. The design team was headed by Zagrodnik + Thomas Architects and the general contractor was Riha Construction.