The Observer Newspapers | Decades Old Dream Comes to Life in Reston

Nov. 20, 2009

To see more photos of the new Nature House click here!

Decades Old Dream Comes to Life in Reston

By Leslie Perales

Observer Staff Writer

After touring Reston Association's Nature House on Wednesday during a special preview Reston founder Bob Simon declared his long-time dream come true to be "fantastic."

Simon first envisioned Reston having a nature center when he began to develop the area. Construction on the project began almost a year ago. Looking around the Nature House he said he is proud of the detail and craftsmanship that went into the construction of the new community gathering space.

Katie Shaw, RA's Nature House manager, said it will be great to finally be able to hold programs on the weekends and throughout the winter in a space that is heated and cozy. "Dozens of people made this dream come true," she said. She said she is most proud of and thankful for the Friends of Reston, which raised $1.5 million to fund Nature House with the help of more than 1,000 donors from across the community.

HITT Contracting, Inc., which specializes in green construction, has worked to help RA strive for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification for the building. Some of the buildings green features include a geothermal heat pump system, partial radiant flooring, a zoned temperature management system, windows in nearly every room to maximize on natural light sources and the use of many recycled materials.

Even the interiors of the Nature House were designed to be environmentally friendly. Finishes include reclaimed hardwood floors from old barns in the Appalachian Mountains, natural Marmoleum flooring and countertops made from 75 percent post-consumer recycled materials. Much of the furniture is Green Guard Certified and the fabrics and carpets contain recycled materials too, Shaw said.

"The nice thing is there are so many options now," said Jacqui Higgins, president of Accents by Design, the Reston company that completed the interiors of the Nature House. She said there are environmentally friendly choices that are also very beautiful and Nature House will show people how to implement green decorating choices in their own homes.

Architect Travis Ritenour, of CMSS Architects, said there were some challenges during the project. He said moving from the schematic concept drawings to creating a design that came up to commercial code was difficult. The feat required him to help meld RA's requests for a space that was intimate and homey with a community gathering space.

Ellen Douglas, secretary of the Friends of Reston board of directors, said the project is the result of years of community efforts. "We're thrilled, we're just so thankful," she said. "It is really a gift from the community to the Reston Association and its members."

Shaw emphasized that Nature House is really meant to be a comfortable space for the community to gather, and not just when there are events or meetings. Douglas said it was Nancy Herwig, a former RA nature center manager, who coined the term Nature House.

RA President Robin Smyers said those who helped make the facility a reality deserve special thanks for their donations of time, talent, funding and creativity. She said she remembers being a member of the design review board when the initial drawings were approved. "Seeing the reality though is so much more beautiful than one could imagine. I couldn't be more pleased."

The grand opening for the Nature House is from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Reston residents will have the opportunity to tour the space, learn more about the material and celebrate decades of the community's dreams and hard work. "It's not just talking the talk, we're walking it," Smyers said. Nature House is located at the Walker Nature Education Center at 11450 Glade Dr.