The Five Rivers Environmental Education Center was a new construction project and the planned main attraction to the 450-acre site owned and operated by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  The building offers a variety of educational exhibits and environmental resources.  The building also houses offices, presentation and assembly areas, and support spaces.

This project is not only an outstanding example of AOW’s exceptional craftsmanship, but it also is an excellent representation of AOW’s environmentally conscious building capabilities.

The new building included siding and walkways crafted from regional black locust tress, interior columns made from trees harvested from the Five Rivers property, a green roof, rainforest harvesting for irrigation, photovoltaic panels, natural ventilation, and geothermal ground source heating and cooling.  AOW and their subcontractors recycled 94% of the construction waste produced during the project.

The Five Rivers Environmental Education Center is an award-winning project, earning Envision Architects the 2018 AIA New York State Excelsior Award for Merit for New Construction and is the recipient of the USGBC New York’s Upstate Most Successful Community Engagement Award. 

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center easily was certified as LEED Platinum.