HOURS OF OPERATION
LGNC’s refuge is open from dawn until dusk, 365 days a year. The Osprey House is staffed by volunteers and, as such, has limited hours. Please call 610-760-8889 to confirm availability if your visit depends upon the Osprey House being open.
Amenities
- Gift Shop
- Great Hall
- Science Lab
- Research Library
- Outdoor Pavilion
- Sensory Garden
- Pond
- Picnic Tables
- Purple Martin Tower
- Chimney Swift Tower
- Beehive
- Sensory Play Area
Interested in renting a space at the Nature Center for your next event? Email mail@lgnc.org for more information!
Our Green Building
In 2013, Lehigh Gap Nature Center received a Sustainability Award from the Delaware Valley Green Building Council to recognize the sustainability of the Osprey House. Green features of the Osprey House include:
Reuse of Existing Building
- Old building was gutted and made energy efficient
- Addition designed to allow integration of old building into new
- High Efficiency air-to-air heat pump installed in old building
Solar Panels
- 65-panel, 23.4kW SunPower solar system
- Produces enough electricity to cover up to 100% of the building’s energy needs
- Prevents 49,560 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year
Geothermal Heat Pump HVAC
- Zoned so each room on each level has a programmable thermostat
- D-Superheater connects heat pump to water heater
Super-insulated Walls and Ceilings
- Insulated concrete forms for basement walls (R30)
- 2”x8” construction with 1” spray foam plus 6.5” spray cellulose in walls
- Ceilings with 1” spray foam, 15+” of spray cellulose
- Walls ~R35 and ceilings ~R55
- Outside walls of old building framed out internally to allow for addition of 3.5” fiberglass batts as additional insulation
- 1” foam sheeting added to ceilings in old building to improve insulation
High Efficiency Lighting
- Track lighting with LED bulbs
- Exhibit lighting with LED bulbs
- Occupancy sensors
Bird-safe Windows and Doors
- CollidEscape and Feather Friendly decals on exterior surfaces of windows
- Acopian Bird Savers (parachute cords) on exterior door and deck windows
Green Construction Materials
- Hardy Board siding (composite made from cement and waste products)
- Spray cellulose insulation is recycled paper
- Low and no VOC paints
- Slate from local quarry on lobby floor
- Carpeting with 100% recycled backing and 35% recycled fiber
- Dolomite tile in library
- Trex composite decking made from waste sawdust and recycled plastic
- Onsite boulders used in landscaping and driveway retaining wall
- Habitat gardens with 100% native plants
State-of-the-art Stream Discharge Sewage Treatment System
- Includes aeration tanks
- 75% of effluent from filtration tank recirculates through system
Stormwater Management
- All roads and garden areas are pervious surfaces
- Roof water collected in pond to maintain this educational feature of our landscaping
- Demonstration living roof on old spring house