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Go Deeper...and learn more about the principle green features of our new building. Energy Efficiency Look Who's HelpingThe Indiana Chapter greatly appreciates the fine work of those helping to build our new state headquarters. Construction in ProgressFollow the progress of the Efroymson Conservation Center with slideshows. |
The Nature Conservancy's new Indiana headquarters, known as the Efroymson Conservation Center, broke ground in early April of 2009. Our new green building in downtown Indianapolis will be the bricks-and-mortar embodiment of our mission. As a leading conservation organization in Indiana, our building must reflect our values and improve our community.
Learn more about the the groundbreaking of the new Efroymson Conservation Center.
A New, Greener Opportunity
The Conservancy's mission is to protect lands and waters that plants and animals need to survive. With our mission and values come a responsibility to our environment. Thus our building requires a sustainable design that would, among other things, be energy efficient, minimize storm water run-off and utilize locally available, sustainable materials.
When it was possible to build such a state-of-the-art "green" headquarters for about the same as a conventional building, the Conservancy knew that the time was right. By mid-2010, staff will move into our new building, one that could be claimed as the first LEED platinum-certified office building in Indiana.
The Nature Conservancy has been working in Indiana since 1959. Since then we have protected almost 70,000 acres of forests, wetlands, caves and prairie that will remain protected for generations to come. Our mission and long-term commitment to conservation explain why the design and construction of an energy-efficient, sustainable headquarters facility is especially important to us.
New Building - Why and Why Now?
For the past 34 years the Conservancy has leased facilities, only moving as our staff grew and needs changed. We have outgrown our current leased space just north of downtown Indianapolis, and with our landlord having other plans for the space, it was necessary to look for other options, namely: continuing to lease at a new location, buying an existing building (with or without renovation) and constructing a new building.
A cost-benefit analysis of our options showed that it would be more cost-effective for us to buy or build a new building than to lease office space. It was also found that building green - even to a LEED platinum level of performance - was well within the cost range for a typical office building. Going "green" was a natural choice, and now a green building could be in our reach with features that would add value to the building over time while simultaneously reducing our environmental impact.
It's Easy Being Green
Our building project is just one more step in our process of getting to green. We have already planted trees in southern Indiana to offset the carbon footprint of our entire Indiana staff. Our offices recycle paper, plastic and aluminum as well as purchase recycled products. Vehicles are replaced with more energy efficient ones as they wear out and thermostats are adjusted to be a little warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. These small steps, along with our commitment to conservation in Indiana, can assure our community that the Conservancy will operate our headquarters in a manner that minimizes our effect on the environment and serves as a model for other organizations to follow.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Building Rendering © The Nature Conservancy; Logo © SustainIndy.
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