Twin Creeks Science & Education Center
Gatlinburg, TN
Lord, Aeck & Sargent designed the new Science Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). Due to its extraordinary natural diversity of plants and animals, and its unique cultural developments, GRSM has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site. The park also underwent an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) to identify and catalog all living species within the GRSM. This unique facility dramatically improved the Park's facilities for research, inventory and educational activities.
The Science Center houses offices for researchers, research and laboratory space, curatorial space for specimens collected for the ATBI and educational/classroom space.
The National Park Service has made a strong commitment to sustainable design and development. To that end, Lord, Aeck & Sargent investigated a number of strategies for the facility including bio-retention of storm water, daylight harvesting, use of cleared site trees and boulders in construction of the building, light pollution reduction and natural ventilation. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.
