Phase I -  Fall 2008

Phase I of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is on schedule to be completed
in the spring of 2010 with the field station staff scheduled for a move into the new facility by May. The exterior
stone, door and window work have been completed with the bridge stonework under construction at this time.
The roof insulation and growing media have been installed and the educational platform on the roof is nearing
completion.

Work has been completed on the parking area to the east of the field station and is underway on the new
roadway and parking area on the north of the facility. The roadway will have bioswales draining to an on-site
water filtration and collection system with the surface serving as a paving test site for the Illinois Department
of Transportation.

The interior is also nearing completion. All drywall work is complete, much of the insulation and painting has
been completed, staining of the concrete floors has started, the ceiling grid and drop ceilings are being
installed, lab equipment and tables are going in, and the classroom is nearing completion.

 Site of the field station along the banks of the Mississippi River (above right)

 Spring 2009 (below)

Phase 11 -  Summer 2009 (director's office pictured below)

 Phase II - Fall 2009

 National award-winning stone masons finalizing their work on entrance pillars and roof Fall 2009

 Dragonfly Pond development at entrance to the field station (pictured above)

 Building the walkway to the roof (above) Fall 2009

 Light sensors installed on the roof supply the field station with indoor lighting Fall 2009

 
  Todd Jackson, Project Manager of River City
  Construction, explains the lighting system to NGRREC
  employees Sarah Carney and Dane Beiser.

Phase II is expected to be underway in the near future, thus limiting the extent of the exterior landscaping that can be installed. Phase II includes additional office and meeting space along with construction of the mesocosms and accompanying river pump station. The wind and hydro kinetic turbines are also expected to be constructed as part of Phase II.

NGRREC is awaiting word on a competitive grant application to determine if  Phase III will be constructed in the next 24 months. If the application is successful, you will see construction over the next two to three years to west of the field station. Phase II contains flexible lab and office space for use in aquatic and terrestrial research.