COURTESY OF THE ENC
ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER , NEWPORT BEACH
Orange County ’ s first LEED Platinum building , the Environmental Nature Center ( ENC ) was designed by OC ’ s LPA , Inc . and completed in 2008 as the culmination of a dream that began in 1972 by Newport Harbor students and teachers . They developed a living classroom with nature trails cared for by volunteers . Today , the ENC is still a place of learning , but also one of supreme sustainable design . Built from recycled and recyclable materials , its main structure is designed to capture as much light as possible with a north-facing glass wall . Its rooftop solar array provided 100 % of its needed power and drought-tolerant landscaping rounds out the environmentally friendly design — a true nature ’ s center .
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