Woodlands Stewardship Education Center
Designed to generate more resources than it consumes, the project utilizes passive design, solar panels, stormwater collection, grey water reuse, and environmentally safe building materials.
Fairfax, Virginia
Client: Quinn Evans Architecture
Building Size: 4,400 acres; 7,000-sf building
Project Cost: $2 Million
Certifications: Zero Energy + Living Building Challenge Goals
Sully Woodlands encompasses 4,400 acres and 43 parks with specific-use zones, such as community-serving recreation space and resource-stewardship areas. The philosophy of stewardship and education has been crucial to the planning and development of Sully Woodlands.
The new Woodlands Stewardship Education Center for the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is a state-of-the-art interpretive education center located in the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, Virginia. Every aspect of the project is used to teach the principles of environmental stewardship. There are many entertaining and educational elements, such as amphitheater risers, feeding stations for birds and other wildlife, and solar powered water features. A focus on STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Art and Math) education is enhanced through ‘R’ for Recreation.
A “Living Building,” one of a few in the region and approximately 30 in the world, the Center was designed to generate more resources than it consumes and will operate year-round in a pollution free manner. The Center utilizes passive design, solar panels, stormwater collection, grey water reuse, and environmentally safe building materials.
Designed to be accessible to all regardless of ability, age, or socioeconomic status, the project also included an outdoor learning area, parking lot expansion, and related site improvements.