Duke in Pictures: Touring the French Family Science Center

Members of the Duke community received an unusual tour of the French Family Science Center this week. The tour showcased the new building's ecological features, including two green roofs, use of certified wood, recycled and regional materials and a landscape plan that included soil conservation and relocation of existing trees and plants.

The center hopes to be LEED certified as a green building, the construction industry's standard for work that takes exceptional measures to minimize negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystem and the environment in general. In 2003, at the request of students in the Duke University Greening Initiative, the University solidified its commitment to green building and the LEED rating system in particular. Duke endeavours to have all new construction and renovations LEED certified, at a minimum.

Faculty and staff are already moving into the $115 million, 280,000 square-foot building, with its official opening planning for later in 2007.

For more on the environmental standards used in construction, click here. For more about LEED certification at Duke, click here.

(Photo by Megan Morr)