Work SessionItem 1Outcome pending
Update and Discussion of Wood Lake Nature Center Building Design Development Progress
The Wood Lake Nature Center building project was scheduled for a design development progress update at this work session, with the project team working alongside HGA Architects through a phased design process. The Schematic Design phase was completed in August 2024, and the Design Development phase — covering site layout, engineering systems, and interior design — was underway and expected to continue through October 2024. Council was expected to provide direction on key design decisions including site features, geothermal system options, building layout, and interior aesthetics for the replacement of the 1971 facility.
final tally arrives when the city publishes the minutes
Part of an ongoing matter · 2 related discussions
Key figure: $26 million — Total project cost for new Wood Lake Nature Center building
Potential benefit
If completed as designed, the new facility would replace a 50-year-old building with a fully accessible, modern nature center featuring multi-use community spaces, updated educational exhibits, expanded school and community programming capacity, and sustainable site features such as gravel paths, a nature playground, and geothermal heating. The facility is free and open to the public, serving residents of all ages and abilities across the 150-acre park.
Concern to consider
Design decisions being made at this stage — including which geothermal system to install, overall building footprint, and site layout — carry long-term cost and maintenance implications. The traditional geothermal option would require 50–60 wells and permanently restrict tree planting over the well field, potentially affecting the natural character of the site.
What happens next: A third design development meeting focused on interior design was scheduled for September 16, 2024. The Design Development phase was expected to continue through the end of October 2024, after which the project would advance to the next design phase with HGA Architects.
Sources: Work Session agenda (city portal) ↗