Eastern 4H Environmental Education and Conference Center

Eastern 4H Environmental Education and Conference Center is one of NC State’s campus buildings certified for high performance and sustainability.

 

LEED Status: Certified LEED Gold

Gross Square Footage: 21,000

Date of Completion: Opened January 6, 2011

Designer: MHA Works

Purpose of Project: Located on the Albemarle Sound, the 242-acre Eastern 4-H Center was developed as a state of the art, year round conference and education center. The master plan included both a conference center with auditorium that could accommodate important 4-H and other group conference functions and a youth oriented camp emphasizing environmental education with supporting educational, recreational and lodging facilities.

 

Sustainability Strategy

The 4H Center was NCSU’s first LEED Gold facility with many forward-looking features. Highlights include:

• Over 20% of recycled material including ceramic tile, structural steel, acoustical panels, and insulation made from recycled denim.
• Use of bamboo flooring, an environmental sensitive and rapidly renewable material.
• Regionally harvested and manufactured metal and concrete.
• Occupancy sensors and efficient lighting design that reduce energy demand. The occupancy sensors were innovative features of this project that are now required according to North Carolina energy code.
• Windows with low-E glass that reduce heat gain.
• A rain garden that controls stormwater by filtering runoff from the building.
• An efficient geothermal system. Although this feature does not earn LEED points due to its dependence on a heat pump, the system contributes to the building’s projected 25% energy cost savings.