Moorhead Environmental Complex

Getting the Water Right

This green building was built as a direct and proactive way to support the Stroud™ Water Research Center’s environmental education and public outreach. It was dedicated in 2012 in honor of Rodman W. Moorhead III and his many years of service and support of the Stroud Center.

Even though the Moorhead Environmental Complex occupies only a small portion of our site, the innovations associated with its construction have made all elements of the water cycle more sustainable for the entire campus.

The building utilizes and treats water in a way that more closely mimics nature — leaving a smaller overall environmental footprint, better protecting the White Clay Creek, and acting as both a teaching vehicle and a replicable model for others to follow.

As we “teach by doing,” we will influence every individual who experiences our programs. This environmental education and public outreach center will become a platform from which we can continue leading the way.

Why Build a “Green” Building?

It really didn’t make sense for us to build an environmental education and outreach center without seizing the opportunity to improve the overall health and environmental footprint of our campus.

We decided that not only should we aspire to LEED^® certification (the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council) for our new building, we should shoot for the highest level. Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification, requiring at least 52 of the available 69 LEEDpoints. The Moorhead Environmental Complex achieved LEED Platinum in April 2013.

Stormwater
Management

Recycled & Locally
Sourced Materials

Sustainable
Water Use

Educational
Opportunities

Energy
Efficiency

Design and
Build Team