Lexington, Ky - The Raven Run Visitors' Center, opened today by Mayor Jim Newberry, Vice Mayor Jim Gray and other officials with a ceremonial snipping of a biodegradable "ribbon," represents turning points: one, for the future and direction of structural design in Lexington and another for the architects of the firm of Pohl Rosa Pohl who conceived of the structure.
The $1.8 million, 4,800 square foot building, distinguished by twin wings, was developed using the U.S Green Building Council's LEED criteria.
"The important thing about this building is that it's very site specific. It responds not only to the site but also very closely to the (Raven Run) program," noted Krisha Rosa, lead architect on the project. "So much of the architecture in Lexington calls upon pseudo-historical references that really don't respond to either the site or the function. If people could let go of that, we have a lot to draw on without pulling in historic references that are inappropriate."
The roof of the center is supported on cedar logs harvested by Modern Horse Logging, a company that uses horse teams to minimize disruption of forest floors. The main bank of windows are angled outward to minimize sky reflection - reducing incidences of bird/window collisions.
The roofs collect rain water and channel it to a central pond.
The pond is a teaching element and also supplies a cistern that is used to flush the toilets.
Add to all of this the building's geothermal HVAC, heat reflecting white roof surfaces, passive solar energy, natural lighting and natural ventilation features, spray foam insulation and many zero maintenance surfaces, and Lexington has a remarkable new building to study and perhaps emulate.
The Newberry administration funded $1-million for the project and the Friends of Raven Run raised another $600,000 for its construction.
Krisha Rosa first met Graham Pohl at the original Raven Run weekend charrette in 1997. "I was new in town, but was aware of Raven Run and very interested in it," she said. "Graham was there and commented that he thought it should be a timeless piece of architecture. That really resonated with me."
Rosa recalled that as the weekend progressed, people fell by the wayside but she and Pohl remained, working out the design. Some six months later, the Friends of Raven Run organization called on architects to offer proposed designs and it was then when the two of them decided to work together.
They joined forces to pursue the project and later, along with Pohl's brother, Clive became partners and the firm of Pohl Rosa Pohl was born.
Raven Run is a 734 acre nature sanctuary along the Kentucky River Palisades featuring 10-miles of hiking trails. It is home to more than 45 species of trees, 640 species of plants, an abundance of wildlife and some 200 species of birds.