Twin Creeks Science & Education Center

The Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, was designed to support the park's All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), which aims to catalog the park’s extensive biodiversity. This 15,000 square-foot facility features laboratories, offices for researchers, curatorial areas for specimen collections, and educational spaces that enhance the park’s research, inventory, and educational infrastructure. Sustainable design strategies were integral to the project, including bio-retention of stormwater, daylight harvesting, and natural ventilation systems. Locally sourced materials, such as trees and boulders cleared from the site, were used in the construction, reinforcing the building’s connection to its natural surroundings. High-efficiency lighting with occupancy and daylight controls, along with low-emission materials and light pollution reduction measures, further minimized the facility’s environmental impact. The center achieved LEED Gold certification, aligning with the National Park Service’s commitment to sustainable development while supporting both ecological preservation and operational efficiency.