The Living Learning Center looks like a souped-up log cabin, integrating wood harvested on the property with the new advances in eco-friendly design.
The center is being built to meet the living building challenge, developed by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council. A building must meet 16 needs to qualify.
No building has met the standard, which is considered as stringent green building rating.
“Every nail, every screw, every light fixture had to be scrutinized to meet the standards,” stated Jonathan Chase, Tyson Research Center’s director.
The $1.6 million Living Learning Center can’t be deemed a living building until it has met the needs for a year.
Heavy construction materials had to come from within 250 miles to minimize carbon emissions from transportation.
Structural wood came from Arkansas, but wood on the exterior and floors came from the Tyson property. Some of the trees had fallen in storms. Others were cut down as part of larger efforts to restore biodiversity on the property.
Once rainwater is used in a sink, it will pass through a garden filled with native wetland plants and reeds before returning to the water table. The building will be utilized for offices and classrooms.
