Erin’s Pavilion, a welcome and visitors center at the 80-acre Edwin Watts Southwind Park in Springfield, Ill., earned LEED Platinum. The new 16,000-sf facility, a joint project between local firm Walton and Associates Architects and the sustainability consulting firm Vertegy, based in St. Louis, serves as a community center and special needs education center, and is named for Erin Elzea, who struggled with disabilities during her life.
Inside, the pavilion houses a visitor’s center, offices and conference space for the Springfield Park District, a 4,900-sf special events space, small programming rooms, a catering room, a private calming area, and oversized public and family restroom facilities. The building’s green features include a high-efficiency building envelope utilizing ICFs, ultra-low-flow plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency mechanical systems, extensive daylighting, recycled and low-VOC materials, and grounds that incorporate bioswales and paving that minimizes heat island effect.