The NEST center will transform the grounds of a historic school campus into an outdoor classroom, demonstrating best practices in ecological engineering and regenerative design, and re-framing the Pelican’s Nest Marine Science Lab as the heart of the campus. Four existing free standing classrooms will be renovated into a project based learning and professional development centers, with capacity for film-making, robotics, science labs, and the arts. These flexible, modern learning environments, with white board wall surfaces, green screens, movable partitions and adaptable furnishings will feel more like the headquarters of a technology firm than a traditional school. Both the Buildings and Site will be redesigned as 3D textbooks, demonstrating best practices for the transformation of an aging facility into a cutting edge Net Positive Water and Energy School for the state of Alabama and the Gulf Coast region.
WATERSHED has worked closely with the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FEEF) to create a master plan, budget, and conceptual design for a STEAM focused Educational Enrichment Center, located in the center of downtown Fairhope.
The NEST Educational Enrichment Center
Project Type: Master Planning, Conceptual Design
Client: Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation
Location: Fairhope, AL
Role: Architect
What makes this campus a 3D Textbook?
- Rainwater Collection system
- “Living Machine” water treatment wetland
- Solar Canopy and Electronic Energy Monitoring
- Green Walls / Living Art Exhibits
- Teaching Garden and Compost Center
- Outdoor Classrooms and Performance Space
- Flexible, wired Maker Spaces encourage creativity