COURTESY OF ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER
ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER , NEWPORT BEACH
Orange County ’ s first LEED Platinum building , the Environmental Nature Center 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 provides 100 % of its needed power and droughttolerant landscaping rounds out the environmentally friendly design — a true nature ’ s center . The ENC ’ s Nature Preschool building , completed in 2019 , has also been certified as LEED Platinum , the highest certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design from the U . S . Green Building Council .
NEWPORT BEACH MAGAZINE 63