AIA Milwaukee

The April Opening Doors event featured a tour of the Urban Ecology Center with a focus on the many sustainable features of the project.  These features include rainwater harvesting which is used to flush toilet in the building.  Rainbarrel collection used to water the garden. Dual flush toilets and waterless urinals.   Bioswales around the building perimeter and parking lot.  Porous pavement at sidewalks and parking lot.  Reclaimed wood used throughout for beams, columns, roof decking, outdoor decking, railings, furniture, paneling, and flooring.  Sonotube forms used as stools.  Reclaimed furniture, blackboards, and mirrors.  Deep overhangs, high performance operable windows, and internal shading devices.  A vegetated green roof.   And a solar array on the south roof which generates 50% of the building’s electrical requirements.  The tour also included a sneak peek of the “For the Birds” birdhouse competition entries.