Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park

Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park cited for energy efficiency

The new Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron County has joined three other major DCNR Pennsylvania Wilds projects in garnering honors for energy efficiency and environmental design.

Officially opened in late October 2011, the Sinnemahoning State Park building was awarded Silver LEED status by the U.S. Green Building Council. Earlier, Gold recognition was extended to the Elk Country Visitor Center, Elk County; Nature Inn at Bald Eagle in Centre County, and the Tiadaghton State Forest Resource Management Center in Lycoming County.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized mark of design, construction and maintenance excellence that seeks to ensure buildings reflect the highest environmental and energy efficiency. Offered at four levels for new construction—Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum—the ratings gauge water and energy use, materials, and other design criteria.

Among the Sinnemahoning facility features cited were: use of heavy timber, wood doors and trim from certified forests; geothermal heating and cooling; locally supplied stone flooring and veneer; rain gardens supplying storm water quality control; special interior paints, sealants, sealers, stains, and carpeting; heat efficient roofing; and dark-sky compliant exterior lighting.

Officially opened Oct. 26, the wildlife center is one of DCNR’s key investments in the Pennsylvania Wilds, only a short distance from the Elk Scenic Drive in the heart of the north central region. The 9,300-square-foot center includes a new park office; interpretative exhibit space; an artisan gallery; and classroom and meeting room space.

DCNR has the largest number of LEED-rated buildings of any state park system in the nation, and has reduced its carbon footprint by 20 percent the past five years.