The Bagley Outdoor Classroom is located in the Bagley Nature Area, an impressive 50 acre contiguous nature preserve within the University of Minnesota Duluth campus in the heart of downtown Duluth and near the shore of Lake Superior. The campus serves over 11,000 students. The Bagley Classroom sits on a previously developed site that offers dramatic views of the surrounding forest and pond. The existing clearing was ideal for passive and active solar, while still providing wind protection and east and west summer shading.

The building serves as a multi-purpose assembly space and environmental studies center. Many departments use the facility as a field station to supplement exercises within the nature area. Engineering students use the building as a laboratory to monitor performance and learn about the construction and systems. The LEED Platinum Certified, Passive House, and AIA COTE Top 10 Building incorporates many sustainable features. Using passive and permanent strategies like super-insulation, the peak heating load was reduced to just 3000 watts in this extreme cold climate where temperatures drop to -40 degrees F. This approach reduced the overall energy demand by 81% before any renewable energy. The tiny 5.5 kW integrated photovoltaic array gets the building to near-zero energy.

Material Used :

1. Enercept – SIPs (structurally insulated panels) – 100% recycled content EPS

2. LiveRoof – Pre-vegetated Trays

3. Rheinzink – Pre-weathered zinc facade cladding - salvaged reject product from local

fabricator

4. Duluth Timber Company – Salvaged Timber Beams

5. Envirolet – Vacuum Flush Composting Toilet System – Flushsmart VF

6. Innotech – uPVC window frames - InnoNova

7. Cardinal Glass – Triple-pane IGUs

8. WoodMax – Custom solid wood door with insulated core

9. Venmar – HRV