Construction supports expansion of university’s outreach mission

The KPNC Environmental Education Building was officially dedicated with a ribbon cutting held on Dec. 6. Shown from left to right are KPNC Manager Michael Buckman, Auburn University Board of Trustee Bob Dumas, City of Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts, Auburn Provost Vini Nathan and the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment’s Emmett F. Thompson Dean Janaki Alavalapati.

Auburn University unveiled its newest venue for environmental education at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (KPNC) during the official dedication and ribbon cutting of its Environmental Education Building held Friday, Dec. 6.

Situated at the entrance of the 120-acre tract of the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center located on North College Street in Auburn, Alabama, the structure will be a dynamic focal point of the KPNC that will welcome tens of thousands of visitors and program participants annually.

The new state-of-the-art building houses the KPNC’s Woodlands Wonders Classroom and the multi-purpose City of Auburn Community Classroom, providing much-needed climate-controlled space that will enable the KPNC to expand its educational offerings and provide a unique venue for special events and other gatherings.

“Here, future generations will not only learn about the world around them but become active participants in its preservation,” said Auburn Trustee Bob Dumas. “Through hands-on experiences, engaging lessons and exploration of the outdoors, our young learners will discover the beauty and importance of nature that will stay with them for a lifetime.”

The initial concept and design of the structure was completed by Boston’s Leers Weinzapfel Associates, led by Tom S. Chung, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C as principal architect and Su Poon, AIA, LEED AP.

With funding from the Alabama Legislature, the building was constructed using cross-laminated timber (CLT), a mass timber product engineered using southern yellow pine produced in Dothan, Alabama. The prominence of this novel material showcases Alabama’s forest industry and the innovation of CLT as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials for residential and commercial construction.

Further enhancing the CLT-constructed design, the team incorporated exposed natural wood ceilings, walls, floors and abundant windows to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, promoting a sense of wonder and exploration of the natural world.

The thoughtful placement of the structure within the landscape is also intended to demonstrate sustainable construction methods. The building sits above the land on footings, and the landscape design incorporates natural features like the “Johnny Lawrence Memorial Rain Garden,” which minimizes environmental impacts and maintains natural water and runoff systems.

At the entrance of the building, visitors will encounter the building’s open-air “Emily Kling Discovery Corridor,” which includes interpretive signage and displays that allow visitors to freely enjoy the KPNC’s beloved live animal collection, which often complements its education programs.

As an outreach facility of Auburn’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE), the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center’s mission is to promote a sense of stewardship towards nature through quality environmental education, recreation and outreach programs in partnership with Auburn and its stakeholders.

“This Environmental Education Building is a testimony to that mission,” said Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts. “It embodies the united partnership between the state, university, city and community members who have joined forces to create this dynamic space for our youth and community to gather, learn and appreciate the bounty of the natural world.”

“Aesthetically, this building is a showpiece of the beauty of CLT construction, but within its walls, it will accomplish something much more powerful.”

Among its primary uses, the building will be the home to Kreher’s Woodland Wonders Nature Preschool, an emergent, nature-based curriculum that invites children to learn through the experience of nature.

Enabled by the addition of this dedicated classroom space, this novel program has recently become the first nature preschool in the state designated as an Alabama First-Class Pre-K. A designation that will expand the KPNC’s preschool program to provide tuition-free access to a high-quality preschool education program for four-year-old students in the area.

The KPNC also provides educational resources and field experiences for school-age children.

“We are very excited about the immense educational and recreational value represented by this facility for our community,” said City of Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “And now, as a First-Class Pre-K, the KPNC will enable even more of our community members to benefit and enjoy its programs, who otherwise may not have had the opportunity.”

The CFWE Emmett F. Thompson Dean Janaki Alavalapati’s remarks echoed those of Auburn’s leadership, which applauded the university’s partnership with the state of Alabama and the City of Auburn, as well as philanthropists such as Emily Kling, Maggie Lawrence and Kaitlin McWane who helped to support the multi-million-dollar project.

“We are eternally grateful to Louise Kreher Turner and her husband Frank for this generous gift of land, in addition to the many loyal friends of the KPNC who have also contributed,” said Alavalapati.

“In keeping with their vision, the KPNC has become a cherished part of our community and an important vehicle of Auburn’s land-grant mission.”

Since the property was gifted to the university in 1993, many individuals have invested their time and effort to evolve the once passive-use forest preserve to the fully realized nature center that exists today, including Dean Emeriti Emmett F. Thompson and Dick Brinker, Margaret Holler, Jennifer Lolley, Sarah Crim, Glenn Glover and Arthur Herndon.

“It is their shared passion and vision that inspired our leadership and the building’s architects, designers and builders to create this engaging space that will inspire a sense of stewardship toward our community and environment for years to come,” said KPNC Manager Michael Buckman.

Those wishing to support the construction with a naming opportunity or other tax-deductible donation may contact Heather Crozier, CFWE’s director of development, at vannhea@auburn.edu or by visiting https://kpnc.auburn.edu/eeb/.

View additional photos of the KPNC Environmental Education Building Dedication and Ribbon Cutting online.

(Written by Jamie Anderson, photo and video credit to Cole Sikes,  Kelly Knowles. Blair Milford and the Auburn Chamber of Commerce)