Kennekuk County Park Education Center

Farnsworth Group worked with the Vermilion County Conservation District Foundation to produce floor plans, elevations, and 3D renderings for the new Kennekuk County Park Education Center.

The full design of the facility includes a new 32,000 SF facility that was planned to educate the public, especially children, about nature and conservation. The facility includes two large classrooms, two exhibit spaces, offices, a full-service kitchen, and a 9,750 SF lecture hall / gathering space. The facility is designed to appear rustic and lodge-like, to fit in with the surrounding natural setting.

The design of the building incorporated several sustainable design and green technologies including a green roof, solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, water filtration for parking lot and roof runoff, sustainable building products, energy-saving lighting system, and water-free restroom fixtures.

The project was divided into several phases to accommodate development that matches available funding resources. In 2013, Phase 1 of the project was constructed including staff offices, two environmental education rooms, conference room, kitchen, and supporting spaces. The first phase encompasses the initial goals of the project and lays the groundwork for future phases