CINCINNATI, OH - The Southwest Ohio office of Skanska, a leading construction and development firm, has been chosen to build the first new structure at the Cincinnati Nature Center since 1971. This project commenced on October 9th with an official groundbreaking ceremony.
The Cincinnati Nature Center is investing $3.6 million in constructing a field station at Long Branch Farm and Trails in Goshen, Ohio. The facility is slated to open in the fall of 2025.
The 4,000-square-foot Center for Conservation’s Field Station will be a hub for a range of activities, including field research, native plant production and restoration projects. The space will feature a native seed processing and storage barn, lab workstations, equipment space and additional plant cultivation hoop houses. It will also have meeting space, office space and public restrooms.
"At Skanska, one of our core beliefs is building for a better society," said Chris Hopper, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building. "The Center for Conservation Field Station will help further the Cincinnati Nature Center's mission of inspiring conservation through personal experiences, education and care for the land."
Cincinnati Nature Center Director of Operations & Engagement Kristi Masterson said Skanska was selected for the project because the company listened to the Center's needs and concerns. Emersion Design is serving as the project architect. With a strong track record in sustainability, Emersion has been a trusted partner in numerous successful past collaborations with Skanska.
"Skanska probed deeper to understand who Cincinnati Nature Center is and how we want to make a substantial impact on conservation in our region," Masterson said. "This new field station will allow us to progress. They assembled a team that truly fit our current and future needs."
In 1972, Neil and Camilla McElroy donated their 538-acre working farm to Cincinnati Nature Center to be an educational farm. The McElroy's said they wanted to preserve the land and viewed it as a space to teach people about the source of food and fiber.
Over the past 52 years, the organization has continued expanding this property. Today, Long Branch Farm and Trails encompasses 758 acres – about the area of Central Park in New York City – of forest and farmland.
“To provide proper, modern conservation field station facilities for our team and visiting researchers, natural resource professionals, members, volunteers, and visitors, we must construct a hub for our community-based conservation activities,” said Cincinnati Nature Center Executive Director Jeff Corney.