Green Building Biography

Walking the Environmental Talk

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center's Green Environmental Learning Center is one of the nation's most environmentally sensitive buildings


The Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center opened to the public in May 2003, with much fanfare and excitement. John Flicker, president of National Audubon Society headquartered in New York City, and nearly 500 other supporters of the Center were on hand to celebrate the opening of Milwaukees newest environmental landmark.

Hailed as one of the most environmentally sensitive buildings in the nation, the Centers green building has received a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) award from the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED system awards points for incorporating green building practices, such as natural ventilation, passive solar heating and cooling, daylighting, use of recycled and recyclable materials, reliance on renewable energy sources, and a host of environmental impact strategies.

During the early planning stages, Schlitz Audubon Nature Centers board of directors made a decision to "walk the talk" and build the "greenest of the green" sustainable facility, using LEEDs rating system as an environmental quality control yardstick.

Some green highlights of the building include:
  • Extensive use of natural light, with specially designed and placed window systems that reduce energy needed for lighting
  • A geothermal heating system that uses 90 groundwater wells and the earths temperature to provide heating and cooling, lessening dependence on fossil fuels
  • A 10-kilowatt photovoltaic solar power system, donated by We Energies, that supplies 10 to 20 percent of the buildings electricity
  • Low-flow plumbing that helps protect the environment by reducing water usage
(See Sustainability Fact Sheet for more details)



Schlitz Audubon Nature Centers environmental learning center was made possible by a successful $8.25 million Capital Campaign, the first in the Centers history. "We were amazed at how wonderful the support was," said Executive Director Elizabeth Cheek. "Though the money we raised is a large amount, we really succeeded because we had a larger amount of something else - commitment. Donations ranged from five dollars to $1 million, and a great many people wanted to help. It was a heartwarming demonstration of how important Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is to the community."

The Centers green building provides much-needed space for classrooms, an auditorium, interactive exhibits, Wisconsins first nature preschool, a nature store, and improved accessibility for persons with disabilities. The extra space now allows the Center to educate more than 35,000 children every year!

In addition, the building will serve as a teaching tool and will increase the awareness of the use of sustainable building techniques and materials and promote green building for the future.

Tucked just 40 feet away from the surrounding natural landscape, the building acts as a portal to the Centers sanctuary bringing the outside in and provides plenty of space for learning, gathering, and relaxing.

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