Audubon National Wildlife Refuge & Visitors Center

Case Study

After construction of the Garrison Dam was completed across the Missouri River in Coleharbor, North Dakota, in 1956, Snake Creek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established. When the 2.5-mile long dam was created to make the Lake Sakawea reservoir, Snake Creek NWR helped replace the important wildlife habitat that was lost when Lake Sakawea was filled. In 1967, Snake Creek NWR was renamed Audubon NWR to honor a local naturalist and wildlife painter. The lake spans 368,000 acres and provides food, space and shelter for a variety of wildlife species.

Problem

As a result of age, the building had developed and exposed some serious health and safety problems, including asbestos, extensive rodent encroachment, water leakage and mold. To continue to be able to serve and sustain the surrounding habitats, the outdated structure needed to be replaced.

Solution

To achieve the main focus of functionality and sustainability, roofing contractor Industrial Enterprises worked with Houston-based MBCI for the roof panels. Industrial Enterprises used 16,000 square feet of MBCI’s 24-gauge BattenLok® HS standing seam roof panel in Classic Green with a Signature® 300 finish. BattenLok® HS’s high strength structural SSR system was selected to resolve serious health and safety problems the building had acquired and earned LEED Gold certification in the process. BattenLok® HS is a mechanically field-seamed SSR system with a 2-inch tall vertical seam and is available in both 12- and 16-inch widths.

The construction of the Office and Visitor Center at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge was completed in August 2010. To earn its LEED certification, the building met a long list of standards for energy conservation, renewable energy production, water efficiency, the use of recycled materials, and indoor environmental quality and control.

Keplin-Gracon JV from Loveland, Colorado, worked as the general contractor and Industrial Enterprises, Inc. from Bismarck, North Dakota, was the roofing contractor. The building size was approximately 16,000 square feet and was funded through a Region 6 Multiple Award Task Orde Contract. Construction began in November 2009 and completed in April 2010.