Bluff Lake Nature Center

Bluff Lake Nature Center will be located in an established nature preserve on 123-acres along the Sand Creek Greenway in east Denver. The area was once a buffer at the end of one of the Stapleton airport runways. The now defunct airport is being transformed into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood. The Nature Center currently operates as an urban oasis and leader in elementary science education, but operates out of a storage facility and an off-site office. Local schools and families can have their children attend field trips and workshops at the site. The planned building for the Bluff Lake Nature Center will unite the experiential and research/administrative functions, while allowing for an expansion of educational programs.

Consisting of two wings, the Experiential wing will provide hands-on educational exhibit space for visitors, classrooms for student groups, and flexible meeting space for larger groups. The Resource Wing will provide the staff with office space, a conference room, library, kitchen, site storage and public restroom facilities. The exterior walls will be of cast earth from the excavation and recycled snow fencing. Large diameter concrete storm drain pipe with glazed ends will be used to focus views of the lake and other site features, as well as acting as mini classrooms. The butterfly roof’s “wings” offer a nod to the aircraft that were a large part of the area’s history, while channeling rain water through educational wetland gardens. Heating and cooling will be provided by geothermal heatpumps, and electricity will be generated by integrated photovoltaic panels on the roof.

Ultimately, the Bluff Lake Nature Center will serve as an engaging gateway to urban nature in a developing part of Denver.