Sustainable Materials

Wherever possible, materials for the Moorhead Environmental Complex were regionally sourced, sustainably harvested, reclaimed, or recycled. This reduced waste and contributed points to our LEED® Material & Resources score.

The Stroud Bench

A particularly striking example of sustainable material use is the six-sided bench in the lobby of the Moorhead Environmental Complex.

The wood in the Stroud Bench comes from six continents, and in keeping with the sustainable materials criterion for LEED certification, was either sustainably harvested or reclaimed.

The bench was built with this selection of international woods to represent the global reach of the Center’s science and education programs.

In the Stroud Bench, North America is represented by American Chestnut; Central and South America by river-salvaged genuine mahogany; and Europe by “Spessart” oak. Africa is represented by bubinga; Asia by plantation East Indian rosewood; and Australia by Tasmanian blackwood.

Sources: The Wood Database