July 23, 2004—The Trustees of Reservations, advocates of the land conservation movement, recently opened the doors of its new Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, a “green” building designed and built to have minimal environmental impact. From the use of recycled and renewable construction materials to its solar panels and geothermal wells installed for heating and energy needs, the Doyle Conservation Center embodies the spirit of environmental conservation.
The $5 million Doyle Conservation Center is the largest capital project The Trustees of Reservations has undertaken in its 113-year history. Constructed with mostly recycled and renewable products, the 18,000 square-foot building was designed to be resource efficient. Funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels provide 25% of the building’s electricity, and two 1,500 foot geothermal wells provide heating and cooling without the use of on-site fossil fuels. Indoor air quality is assured with an intelligent ventilation system and operable windows. Water is conserved by eliminating the need for landscape irrigation and the use of composting toilets, which use 80% less water than conventional toilets.
The Doyle Conservation Center was designed by HKT Architects of Somerville, specialists in mission-driven green and preservation design, with landscaping provided by Hines Wasser & Associates, a company known for its strong ecological designs for native managed landscapes. The building has been registered for gold certification with the U.S. Green Building Council through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
Some of the building’s recycled and renewable materials include: desks and shelves made from sunflower hulls; cork floors; bamboo floors; recycled fabrics used in carpeting and acoustic tiles; sink counters made of “zero-waste” material; and exterior siding formed from the byproducts of hardwood timber harvesting and furniture manufacturing.
For more information, contact The Trustees of Reservations.
