Santa Barbara Botanic Garden – Pritzlaff Conservation Center
Pritzlaff Conservation Center – Green Commercial Building Award
Overview
Designed to nestle into Mission Canyon and the campus of Santa Barbara’s award-winning and remarkable native Botanic Garden, the Pritzlaff Conservation Center overlooks the city, Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands National Park. The building was constructed to a scale and with a native plant color palette, which blends with both the immediate proximity of the site and the extended canyon. Water harvesting on-site and low-water landscaping provide educational opportunities in harmony with the numerous LEED green features that make this an award-winning example of all things green within the structure and the exterior spaces that open the door to public access. The Conservation Center offers lab space, including a molecular genetics lab; workspace for conservation research technicians and interns; space for community meetings, classes, lectures, and exhibits; and a viewing window to watch scientists at work. Central to the conservation component, in the basement is the institution’s seed bank with cryogenic storage to preserve species against extinction and a state of the art air sealed, fireproof herbarium. Rare and endangered native plants surround the building in the Conservation Garden while the Island View Garden provides a stunning view of the Channel Islands.
Winners
Property Owner
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Steve Windhager, Exec. Director
Project Architect
Doug Singletary, AIA, Singletary Design
General Contractor
Paul Wieckowski, Frank Schipper Construction
Civil Engineer
Vern Williams, P.E., Flowers & Associates, Inc.
Electrical Engineer
Alan Noelle, Alan Noelle Engineering
Landscape Designer
Betsy Collins, SB Botanic Garden
Landscape Designer
Tiffany Beamer, ASLA, Olin Studio
Mechanical Engineer
Tom Hughes, Mechanical Engineering Consultants
Permitting
Gelaré Macon, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Flowers & Associates, Inc.
Structural Engineer
John Spiess, SE, Ehlen Spiess & Haight