The Field Station will feature "green" technologies including...

Building Features

  • IDOT roadway with pervious pavers, three experimental types of pavers never before attempted by IDOT, bioswales used to divert storm water (instead of curb and gutter), LED lighting, extension of the MCT Bike Trail onto the property.

  • River Pump with Barge Protection Piers, VFD motors capable of 1.8M gallons a day, fill mesocosms (large concrete channels containing flowing water and plankton pumped directly from the river to be used as artificial environments for experiments)

  • Dragonfly Educational Pond, a teaching area for field trips and classes.

  • Landscaping with numerous types of native species and educational zones explaining types of plants and benefits creates an ideal teaching environment.

  • EPDM roofing system is a green living roof with insultation, 10-12 inches of growing media (special soil) and 3 feet of native prairie grass, an observation deck (educational area) and ADA accessible ramp.

  • Water efficiency systems:

    • River water system to feed wet-labs and the educa­tional pond-Storm water system to feed exterior hose bids and garage washdown

    • Grey water system to feed toilets and urinals for flushing

    • Domestic water system to feed hand sinks and water fountains

    • On site sewage treatment system with tertiary and secondary wetlands, U/V-Micron filter-chemical treatments and a 5,000 gallon Grey water storage tank

    • Storm water collection system to capture 100 per­cent of roof water, storm water diverters to remove large debris and a 10,000 gallon storm water tank for storage

    • Solar hot water system - All hot water will be heated by solar panels then stored for use

  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning:

    • Cold water cooling system supplemented by river water connection and ice storage tanks for peak utility-use hours

    • Heating system to use separate electric heat at each office and classroom for efficiency plus the station will be generating its own electricity via wind and water turbines

    •   Heat wheel to be located in Make Up Air Unit to capture tempered portion of exhausted air and make reuse of it on supply side

  •  Recycled material used on project includes:

    •  Concrete—Use of highest possible amount of Fly Ash

    • Rebar in concrete—Made from 95 percent reclaimed steel

    • Metal studs—Made from 99 percent recycled metal

    • Insulation—Made from newspaper and recycled paper

    • Rubber floor tiles—100 percent recycled material

    • Countertops—Made from recycled glass

    •  Bathroom floor and wall tiles—Made from 100 percent recycled glass

    • Carpet—Contains percentage of recycled material

    • 90 percent of construction related waste will be recycled

  • Educational aspects:  

    • Dragonfly Pond and Educational Area

    • IDOT Roadway Pavers

    •  Landscaping Interpretation Zones

    •  Roof Observation Deck

  •  Interior lobby area:

    • Designed to feel like the exterior

    • Classroom that opens to the lobby area

    • Numerous educational kiosks and wall features Green Touch Screen System--Four 32 inch Plasma type touch screens, user friendly and targeted for the general public and children

    • Quantified through graphs:

      • water efficiency items

      • electrical generation items

      • interior and exterior temperatures

      • material use items

      • comparisons to similarly sized normal building

      • interactive floor plans

      • employee directory

  • Lobby will be opened during business hours

  • Roof observation area will be accessible by a request process, as will tours of the interior laboratory space