On May 20, 2021, the Cope Environmental Center became Living Building Challenge Certified – one of only 30 facilities worldwide to earn this distinguished recognition.
HEAPY provided Mechanical-Electrical Design and Commissioning services for the project to expand the center’s capacity for environmental programs, serving as a community gathering space and a powerful teaching tool for sustainable living in East-Central Indiana. HEAPY was proud to support the Cope Environmental Center’s mission to promote the sustainable use of the earth’s resources through education, demonstration, and research, helping inspire and challenge people to achieve ecologically sustainable lifestyles.
The building is designed with a low profile to blend with the surrounding environment rather than standing out. Solar panels and a closed-loop geothermal system provided alternative, renewable energy sources that helped the facility achieve net positive energy usage, surpassing the net zero requirements to meet the Living Building Challenge. The facility also uses materials that meet exceptional environmental, health and safety standards, limiting the use of chemicals and compounds that could harm the natural world or the people occupying the space.
The Center features dedicated classroom space for hands-on and virtual learning, a large multipurpose room, and flexible educational space that can be sub-divided or adapted to meet different needs. In addition, the building itself is a part of the education experience, offering opportunities for visitors to learn about the facility’s water reclamation system, passive solar design and ultra-high efficiency building materials.
