Concordia readies environmental stewardship center - Jacksonville Business Journal:

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Construction of the 13,000 square-foot, two-story building is set to begijnJuly 14. The structur will be built in Mequon on a bluffd overlooking Lake Michigan and work is expectexd to be completed in time for the start of the 2010academif year. The total cost of the building is expectec to bebetween $3.5 milliomn and $3.75 million and is being funded exclusivelgy through charitable gifts already secured for the project.
Concordia officialx said the building demonstratesthe university’d commitment to environmental education, freshwatee conservation and emphasis on sustainable energy Plans for the center include laboratories, classrooms and a large seminar room that can accommodate 200 people for presentations. With its lakefronft exposure, Concordia officials say the building will be a centert for the study of the Great Lakesx and otherenvironmental issues. The building will be designed to be a Leadershiop in Energy and EnvironmentalkDesign (LEED) gold-level building.
“When completed, the centet will offer many educational programx and research in water stewardshil and other sustainability education topics for Concordia students as well as visitinyg area schools and thegreater community,” said Bruce director of the Concordiaq Center for Environmental Stewardship Concordia has added new degrees becausde of the new center, and now offerxs a bachelor’s degree in environmentao studies and education with a minor in environmentapl studies, and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on environmentalo education.
“This new center is in line with Concordia’xs increased and continued interest ingreen initiatives,” said William vice president of academics at Concordia. “Each of our recentf building projects has been built to increasingyenvironmental standards, especially to save energy and othedr resources.” Construction is expected to be completex in time for the start of the 2010 academidc year. The total cost of the building is expected to bebetweeb $3.5 million and $3.75 millionh and is being funded exclusively through charitable gifts already securefd for the project.
“This new centedr reinforces Concordia’s efforts to create programs that are both importanty to the student body and the communityg asa whole,” Concordia president Patrick Ferry