Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and Kettle Pond Visitors Center (Charlestown, RI)

Department of the Interior

The environmentally sensitive and sustainable Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and Kettle Pond Visitors Center is a collaborative design effort between the Fish and Wildlife Service, the City of Charlestown, Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island, and William D. Warner Architects and Planners. Recycled and low-VOC building materials include engineered wood, plastic lumber, linoleum and bamboo flooring, sheetrock, fiberboard, and carpet with high recycled content. Super insulation, efficient lighting, daylighting, and optimal building orientation will reduce energy use by 20 percent over a traditional office building, while a renewable geothermal heat exchange system will save $7,000 in energy costs annually.