Donate to the Frances Archbold Hufty Learning Center and Adrian Archbold Lodge

The Frances Archbold Hufty Learning Center and Adrian Archbold Lodge, two new “green” buildings for education and outreach at Archbold Biological Station

Overview | Learning Center | Lodge | Green Building Design | Design Team | Funding | Latest News

Overview

Archbold Biological Station is very grateful for a generous gift from the Adrian and Jessie Archbold Charitable Trust for $2.5 million for the development, design and construction of a proposed expansion –the Frances Archbold Hufty Learning Center and Adrian Archbold Lodge, which will allow the Station to host more research and educational opportunities plus give the Highlands County region a model for a state-of-the-art, “green” certified building. Frances A. Hufty was the sister and Adrian Archbold was the brother of Richard Archbold, founder of Archbold Biological Station.

The two components—the Learning Center and the Lodge are being constructed just north of the Station’s current historic campus buildings, on land that was cleared originally in the 1930s. Estimated completion of construction is August 2011. 

The decision to expand the Station stems from the desire to better serve the community by enhancing educational opportunities not only for academia, but for general public and for K-12 groups. The Learning Center will address key Archbold educational and outreach priorities, while the Lodge will focus on meeting the demand for additional overnight accommodations for visiting researchers, college classes, workshops, and meetings.

The Frances Archbold Hufty Learning Center

Designed to integrate the outdoors with the indoors, the Learning Center is approximately ~5,700 sq. ft. in size, with an additional ~3,700 sq. ft. of partially screened, outdoor covered space. It will consist of several smaller structures under one overarching roof, housing two meeting rooms, public restrooms, Education Department office, a permanent K-12 educational exhibit/interpretive display area, informational kiosks, and a lobby which will function as an additional venue for social events.

 “The primary purpose of the Learning Center is to provide a dedicated venue at Archbold for the thousands of schoolchildren, student classes, and agency, not-for-profit, and scientific meetings held annually at Archbold.” Visitors will be introduced to Archbold’s scientific work, and conservation activities; the new building is to serve as a portal to the Florida scrub - inviting visitors and guests to walk out and explore the plants and animals of the threatened Florida scrub ecosystem that lies along a new Nature Trail leading from the building. Linking these experiences with critical learning goals in science, engineering and mathematics will be a crucial aspect of developing interpretive materials for K-12 students.  Alex Griswold, Archbold trustee, notes that “we are particularly interested in incorporating new technologies that are accessible and familiar to our younger visitors that will be born out of the ideas of this generation and fun for them too”.

As a “green” building located in the midst of one of the nation’s premier natural areas, the Learning Center will provide visitors with the unique opportunity to compare conditions for humans in the built environment—Learning Center—simultaneously with conditions in the surrounding ecosystem—scrub —for plants and animals,” states Hilary Swain, Executive Director of Archbold. “Visitors will be able to link responses in the natural environment with their decisions about sustainable living in the built environment.”  The goal is to understand how wise choices about developing and occupying the built environment, can reduce impacts on our natural ecosystems, both locally and globally. 

The Adrian Archbold Lodge

To meet the increasing demands of visiting researchers, college classes and professional groups, the Lodge will be a 2-story facility, ~5,100 sq. ft. in size, with ~2,500 sq. ft. of decking, containing 14 rooms with the capacity to sleep up to 41 guests. It will also feature a separate Living Room for small meetings, studying or simply relaxing after a day of fieldwork. The Lodge will provide an atmosphere of quiet contemplation for visiting guests.

Green Building Design

The concurrent purpose of the Frances Archbold Hufty Learning Center and Adrian Archbold Lodge is to be a “model” for the region, showcasing the significance of sustainable buildings. “Our goal for the Center to be certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum building; although we will see, as construction progresses, whether this highest ranking is achievable.

LEED is the national accreditation system for ranking green buildings. Most of our green building goals are being met by clever design – aligning the building and windows to maximize the use of natural lighting and reduce heat loading, so we can lower energy consumption to 55% below that of a typical building of the same size.  The use of solar water heating panels, some photovoltaic panels, and capturing and recycling water, are other conservation methods we will implement in the Center,” Executive Director, Hilary Swain explains.  Archbold Biological Station was honored to receive a green building planning award from the Kresge Foundation specifically to assist with the additional costs of designing for a platinum level building.

The Design Team

Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects, Inc., out of Ft Myers, Florida, is designing both structures. Jeff Mudgett is the lead architect and has been involved with the project since inception. Designs were also formed by initial planning workshops with the Rocky Mountain Institute from Boulder CO, worldwide authorities on sustainable design. WilsonMiller Stantec, with an office in Sebring, is overseeing civil engineering, surveying and landscape design. The Construction Manager and General Contractor is Owen-Ames-Kimball, Inc. of Ft. Myers. Cross Creek of Gainesville is performing the enhanced commissioning for LEED.

Funding

In addition to the generous gift from the Archbold Charitable Trust, Archbold Biological Station is deeply appreciative of a $300,000 award from the National Science Foundation, and $100,000 from the Kresge Foundation, as well as a $322,000 award from Southwest Florida Management District, and grants from South Florida Water Management District, and the State of Florida Department of Historic Resources for interpretation, as well as generous donations from private sources.

Community support is welcome and there are a range of naming opportunities available.  Once the building is complete Archbold anticipates many possibilities for volunteers and docents to help with welcoming guests and with interpretative programs.

Become a part of this groundbreaking initiative. Please join in this exceptional opportunity to set the stage for the next generation. Archbold is still in need of funding to meet the requirements for this inspiring green building, as well as new interpretive displays, and wayfinding signage. There are many naming opportunities available.

Please contact: Archbold Biological Station, Lodge and Learning Center Project, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960, Attention: Executive Assistant.

If you’d like more information on the Learning Center and Lodge and how you may become involved, contact Archbold Biological Station, Lodge and Learning Center Project,123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960.

Tel  (863) 465 2571.

Email Executive Assistant 

 

Thanks to our funders

 

The Design Team

Archbold Biological Station

PMS