Riverbanks Education Center

The Riverbanks Education Center extends the mission of the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden by creating an immersive environment for learning, conservation, and community engagement. From the outset, the project team aligned around a clear goal: the building itself should serve as a teaching tool.

Mass timber was selected as the primary structural system, utilizing a combination of cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor and roof panels with glulam beams and columns. The structure is intentionally expressed throughout the interior, allowing visitors to see how the building is assembled while reinforcing a strong connection to natural materials.

Beyond its educational value, the mass timber system supports the project’s environmental objectives. The use of wood reduces embodied carbon relative to conventional steel or concrete systems while contributing to a warm, biophilic interior environment.

Early integration of the timber system allowed the team to optimize structural spans, coordinate mechanical and electrical systems within panelized assemblies, and reduce unnecessary finish layers. Prefabricated CLT panels and glulam components improved construction efficiency, reduced on-site labor, and enhanced quality control.

The result is a high-performance facility where structure, material, and mission are fully aligned, demonstrating how mass timber can support both technical performance and experiential learning outcomes.