Image 1: Nature Center facing west
Image 2: Panorama of Nature Center facing the lagoon. Click image for larger vie
In much anticipation, the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center opened on January 31, 2009. An all day event took place to celebrate the opening of the new building, attracting a couple thousand people. People from all over the community including bird enthusiasts, lagoon docents, wildlife experts, and Native American specialists came together to show the building and the lagoon to families and visiting public.
Downstairs, the building contains exhibits which teach about the Escondido creek and watershed which feeds the lagoon, the Kumeyaay Native Americans local to the area, and the electricity which is generated by the building’s photovaultaic panels. Upstairs there is a large meeting room, a large balcony with a panoramic view of the lagoon, a green roof, and an area on the balcony shaded by the PV panels.
Despite all the green features included in the design, the building stands as an even greater symbol of ecological preservation. On Saturday, it seemed to bring the community together in support of estuaries like the San Elijo Lagoon. As time goes on this building will continue to attract people to the lagoon and educate them about their local habitat.
Image 3: View from parking lot. PV panels shade a large portion of the balcony on the 2nd story.
Image 4: Undulating roof and window facade interacts with native vegetation
Image 5: Vegetated roof on second story.
Image 6: Exhibit room on first floor.
