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.