City of St. Louis Park, Westwood Hills Nature Center
Zero Energy, Sustainable Nature Center
Westwood Hills Nature Center (WHNC) is a 160-acre nature park featuring prairie, forest and marsh areas, with trails and an educational center. The project is Net Zero Energy as well as Net Zero Positive. WHNC sought to replace their small, aging facility with a new building whose overarching purpose and vision is connecting people to nature. HGA’s site design expands an existing specimen prairie, creates an outdoor classroom space on the site of the old building, and provides expanded parking for visitors to the new facility. The building forms an experiential and informational threshold to the site. Together, the architectural and site design serve to reinforce visitors’ connection to their landscape.
WHNC’s programming is education-focused, and the heart of the building is formed by a series of multipurpose rooms that will be used for environmental learning classrooms and public events. The new interpretive center will provide expanded public exhibit space and flexible learning spaces for a variety of environmental learning programming for students ranging from preschoolers to seniors. Staff offices, raptor mews and additional support spaces will be included to support programming.
Part of a City effort towards a sustainable future, WHNC will serve as an exemplar for sustainability strategies. WHNC has achieved International Living Future Institute‘s (ILFI) Zero Energy Certification.
PortfolioLocation
St. Louis Park, MN
Building Type
Nature Center
Size
160 Acres
Awards & Recognition
- 2022 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) – Technology Award
- 2021 League of Minnesota Cities/Green Step Cities – Sustainable City Award
- 2021 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) – Innovation in Park Design Award
- 2021 AIA San Francisco - Architecture Merit Award
- 2021 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), District of Columbia Chapter – Illumination Award – Honorable Mention
- 2021 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) – Illumination Award of Merit
- 2021 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Northland Chapter – FAB Awards for Storytelling & Community/Civic Projects
- 2021 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Region VI – 1st Place Technology Award
- 2021 AEI PPA, Award of Merit – Architectural Engineering Integration
- 2021 AEI PPA - Award of Merit for Mechanical Systems Design
- 2021 AEI PPA - Award of Merit for Structural Systems Design
- 2021 American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Francisco Chapter – Architecture Merit Award
- 2021 Washington DC IES Candela Award Honorable Mention
- 2020 MNCREW - Award for Excellence in Environmental/Sustainability
- 2020 Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Women (MNCREW) – Award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability
- 2020 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota – Honor Award
- 2023 Design Award - AIA California
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Westwood Hills
Nature Center
Get a look inside Westwood Hills Nature Center while leaning how this space is knit with its surrounding environment.