The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Pothole pond and marsh at Ordway Memorial Prairie in South Dakota © Harold E. Malde

New, "green" program headquarters and a workshop are being planned for Ordway Prairie Preserve.

In keeping with the Conservancy’s mission, these two buildings, which will be constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, will demonstrate energy efficiencies with new technologies and practices that can be replicated in area homes.

The buildings are being designed by the firm GreenWave Architecture in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Building materials will be sourced locally in South Dakota.

Sustainable Building Practices

The structures will have sustainable design features that can easily be incorporated into into rural construction projects, such as passive solar, ground source heat and the use of recyclable materials, energy efficient fixtures and appliances.

Part of the new headquarters building will provide lodging for interns, burn and research crews as well as visiting staff and volunteers.

The community classroom will be the only space of its kind in the area for conservation meetings, school groups and local gatherings, and an ideal showcase to promote prairie conservation.

The Conservancy has $165,000 left to raise to support the buildings’ construction.