Naperville interpretive center wins design award

The Northeast Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently announced the 2013 Design Awards, selecting Naperville Park District’s Seager Park Interpretive Center as a “Distinguished Building” in the “Under $3 Million” category.

Wight and Company designed the interpretive center and submitted the award application.

The interpretive center opened in 2011, featuring a classroom that hosts Toadstools and Pollywogs nature preschool and other park district programs, a deck, restrooms, accessible paths, and educational signs explaining the natural features and history of the park.

The interpretive center was cited in the award presentation for its sustainable building design, nestled in a grove of mature trees as an educational gathering place for the community.

“We are pleased that we were able to save many of the mature trees around the interpretive center,” said Project Manager Peggy Pelkonen, who attended the award ceremony as a park district representative. “The building incorporates sustainable features and is warm, inviting and attractive.”

“The interpretive center and the other site improvements were accomplished on time and under budget,” said Executive Director Ray McGury. “The sustainable features of the project were simple and cost-effective, and with support from three grants the district was able to improve Seager Park for the community in a fiscally responsible manner.”

In the words of the project description in the award program, Seager Park Interpretive Center, “with its floating exterior wood deck, beneath sheltering roof overhangs, is a place for visitors to venture out and connect with wetlands and native plants.”

For information about the Seager interpretive center or the Naperville Park District, visit napervilleparks.org.