The architect's rendering above shows the future home of Goshen
College's environmental studies program at Merry Lea Environmental Learning
Center. We are preparing a place where students can live in close contact
with the ecosystems they are studying. Here, they will conduct research
on wetlands, wrestle with the relationship between ecology and agriculture
and hone their skills as environmental educators.
We
are not just building a shelter: we are creating a teaching tool and
a model for others who want to make environmentally sound choices. Using
the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system as a guideline,
we are designing a collegiate learning center that is as environmentally
sensitive and energy efficient as possible. We hope to break ground
in 2004 and begin using the building in 2005.
