Hempstead Lake State Park Environmental Education and Resiliency Center

Building Design and Park Enhancements

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation commissioned our team to design an Environmental Education and Resiliency Center at Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, NY, as part of GOSR’s “Living with the Bay” initiative. The 8,000-square-foot facility uses interactive and informational displays to educate visitors about the history of the park, the sustainable nature of the building itself, and the various resiliency measures established by the “Living with the Bay” program.

The building program includes flexible spaces for public gathering, toilet facilities, staff offices, and training spaces that can double as an emergency response hub in the event of a local emergency or natural disaster. The building is also equipped with a generator capable of powering the entire Center during power outages.

Sustainable elements of the building include a robust thermal envelope for continuous insulation in the roof and walls, an electric vehicle charging station, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, and energy-efficient LED lighting, equipment, and fixtures. The building features bird-safe glazing on exterior openings which provide beautiful views of the park and an abundance of natural light to fill the main room.

In addition to designing the Center, we also designed park enhancements such as public lake access, an ADA-accessible fishing pier and kayak launch, trail improvements, bird-watching platforms, interpretive and educational signage, and a parking field with green infrastructure.

Awards
ACEC New York – Platinum Award
AIA Long Island – Archi Commendation Award