Matthew Bialecki, AIA Leads Tour of Sam's Point Conservation Center
Tour sponsored by: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)

On October 2, 2004 nationally recognized architect Matthew Bialecki, AIA, lead a free tour of the new, environmentally friendly in Sam's Point Conservation Center in Cragsmoor, New York. The interpretive center, designed to act as a gateway and principal support facility for visitors using the Sam's Point Preserve, is scheduled to open in May of 2005.

The building, designed for the The Nature Conservancy and The Open Space Institute by Matthew Bialecki, AIA, is a notable example of “green building” design. The architecture, site planning, materials and building systems all demonstrate practical applications of energy-efficient, state-of-the-art sustainable building practices and passive solar design that provide maximum comfort to visitors. In combination, the special features of the building result in a 50% increase in energy-efficiency.

The earth-bermed building was designed as an extension of the landscape. Flooring, timbers, structural framing and lighting pass seamlessly from interior to exterior, dissolving the normal boundaries between the site and the structure. The design uses “Gunk-Crete,” a specially formulated concrete and quartzite aggregate similar to the local Shawangunk conglomerate, fabricated by David Kucera Inc., and a unique “Umbrella Roof,” named for its inherent shading qualities and designed to dissipate summer heat through a layered system of high-performance insulation with a radiant barrier under recycled metal roof panels.

Landscaping, designed by Stefan Yarabek, ASLA of Hudson and Pacific Designs, Inc., features native plants propagated from seeds collected at the Preserve by interns and volunteers and restores the former parking lot to a natural landscape.

The interpretive displays and educational installations are designed by Donald Watson, FAIA of EarthRise initiatives and explain the unique existing ecology of the preserve. The 5,373 acre preserve is at the highest point along the Shawangunk Ridge and is home to globally rare plants and animals. The building and landscape restoration are a project of The Nature Conservancy, a conservation organization dedicated to the protection of the world's biodiversity. Sam's Point Preserve is owned by the Open Space Institute, whose mission is protecting the natural landscapes that define New York's cultural, historic, environmental and recreational heritage.

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