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Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tobacco-barn-transformed-into-visitor-center-for-botanical-gardens/">Visitor centers</a> are meant to open people's eyes up and help educate them about an important topic or place. The <a href="http://www.fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley/visitor_center_rapids_lake.html" target="_blank">Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center</a> in Carver, MN does exactly that and more. Designed by <a href="http://www.msrltd.com/" target="_blank">Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. (MS&R)</a> to take in the natural beauty of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/minnesota-man-uses-geothermal-heating-system-to-build-soaring-ice-castles/">Minnesota</a> river through strategically framed views, the visitor center also educates people aboute the local ecosystem and the advantages of energy efficiency. The facility meets the goals of the <a href="http://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/the_2030_challenge" target="_blank">2030 Challenge</a> using 57.7% less energy than the Department of Energy’s baseline and has a 57.4% smaller carbon footprint.1
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterCompleted in 2008, the 12,800 square foot facility provides opportunities for visitors and education groups to learn about the unique wildlife conservation efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.2
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterThe building was part of a site restoration project and development of trails for visitors to make use of.3
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterMS&R designed viewing portals framed in rusted steel to take advantage of views of the riverbed, restored prairie, native burr oaks, and the historic farmhouse nearby.4
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterThe facility was also designed to be energy efficient and uses considerably less energy than the Department of Energy's baseline.5
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterEnergy use is minimized due to a geothermal heating and cooling system, a heat exchanger, daylighting, and on demand hot water.6
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterMaterials for the building include natural, recycled, FSC certified, and low VOC products.7
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterA view of the Minnesota River from the visitor center.8
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterDue to the sustainable strategies employed, the U.S. Department of Energy and Federal Interagency Energy Policy Committee awarded the visitor center with a 2009 Federal Energy and Water Management Award.9
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterInside the visitor center and exhibition room.10
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterLong hallways frame views of the surrounding landscape.11
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterFloor plan of the visitor center.12
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterView sheds from inside the building of the landscape.13
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor CenterSections of the visitor center and views.14
