The new headquarters for the Wildlife Conservation Society treads lightly on the earth even though it has a big impact globally as it works to protect wildlife and save wild places. Designed by FXFOWLE, the new Center for Global Conservation is located in NYC on the northern edge of the Bronx Zoo. The sustainably-built, LEED Gold certified Center provides administrative offices for the organization and a research center within the zoo.
FXFOWLE completed the Center for Global Conservation in 2009. The building is designed it to fit in with its natural surroundings and minimize any disturbance on the wildlife and landscape by bridging rock outcroppings and avoiding sites with significant vegetation. Salvaged red slate was used in the main conference room, while sustainably-harvested wood was used to create a sun-screen that controls heat gain while mitigating bird mortalities on the heavily forested site. Indoor heating and cooling is provided via an efficient raised-floor air handling system.
The building is LEED Gold certified, and powered by a microturbine co-generation system that uses natural gas to provide both electricity and heat. Windows are large and expansive to optimize available daylight and views, while the cantilevered roof provides shading to temper the sun. The top of the building features a large living green roof that is covered with native plants. All in all it seems like a beautiful and inspiring place to work hard in order to save preserve earth’s wildlife and wild places.
UPDATE: corrections were made to this post, which was originally reported to be zero-carbon and wind powered. It is not.
