Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Design Team wins the U.S. Department of Energy 2008 Federal Energy and Water Management Small Group Sustainable Design/High Performance Buildings Award

(left to right) Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy John F. Mizroch, Doug Brewer, Donna Stanek, Andrew McDermott and Federal Energy Management Program Manager Richard G. Kidd IV in Washington on Oct. 22.. - DOE photo

Ottawa Refuge Manager Doug Brewer, Landscape Architect Andrew McDermott and Visitor Services Chief Donna Stanek were presented the award at a ceremony in Washington on October 22.  Past Ottawa Refuge Manager Dan Frisk and Engineering Chief Rick Frietsche were also named as award winners but unable to attend the ceremony.

The award was for the team’s efforts in building the new Ottawa NWR Visitor Center which replaced the old headquarters building that was constructed in the 1940s. This new high-performance building was designed to be equivalent to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) "Silver" rating. The building's 12,684 square feet are heated and cooled by a pond-loop geothermal heat pump system, with geothermal radiant floor heating on the main level. The building also incorporates high-efficiency lighting controlled by motion and daylight sensors; point-of-use hot water heaters; high efficiency, low-E tinted windows; super insulation; a reflective metal roof consisting of 32 percent recycled steel; natural linoleum flooring; carpet with a high recycled content; low light pollution; rainwater gardens and holding ponds; restoration of wetland; and native planting. The sustainable design reduced the building's energy intensity by 51 percent in 2007 from 2003 levels.

(left to right) USFWS Director Dale Hall, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Senator George Voinovich and Refuge Manager Doug Brewer at the Ottawa Visitors Center grand opening ceremony. - USFWS photo by Chuck Traxler

General location of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

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- USFWS photos Completed visitors center at Ottawa NWR.

- USFWS photos USFWS staff from across the Region helped to complete the new visitors center.

The DOE created this poster as part of the award.

Ottawa NWR Website