Environmental Features of the Shorebird Nature Center's Straw Bale Building 

Berkeley Marina Straw Bale Building

The Shorebird Nature Center is a City of Berkeley owned portable building that is used for environmental education.  A new adjoining facility has been constructed as a green or resource efficient building to provide an office, a Visitor's Center and additional teaching space. The new Center is a 860 sq. ft. building with an attached 450 sq. ft. Outdoor Classroom.  The Center is constructed with grants from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Department of Energy, West Berkeley Foundation,  The Strong Foundation, Builder's Book source, and Individual Contributions. In addition,  the Alameda County Waste Management and Recycling Board is a major funder for the project. 

  Environmental features include:  

• Straw Bale Exterior Walls  

• Passive Solar Design

• Building Integrated Photovoltaics

• Hot Water Solar Panels for Radiant Heating System  

• Natural Linoleum Floors  

• Interior Walls from compressed straw panels

• Recycled and Sustainably Harvested Wood Framing

• Cabinetry from Wheat Straw particleboard  

• Countertops made from Recycled Glass (Counter/ Production)

This is the only City owned, run and maintained, publicly accessible, green building demonstration project of its kind in the Bay Area. It will be open five days a week to provide interpretive brochures, presentations, open houses, and workshops.  This facility expands existing educational programs and helps demonstrate, to all ages of the public and building professionals, how practical, affordable, and environmentally responsible green building construction can be.  

Photo's of the site - beginning pictures, foundation and bale building.

here for- stucco work, covered classroom and roof, photovoltaics and solar.

For more information visit the Straw Bale Building Page or contact program coordinator Patty Donald at (510) 981-6720

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Parks Recreation & Waterfront Marina Division 160 University Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710 Tel: (510) 981-6720 Fax: (510) 981-6725 TDD: (510) 981-6903 Email: Marina Experience