The Desert Living Center at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada is an interactive educational facility that promotes sustainable living in the Mojave Desert. It consists of five buildings constructed with various sustainable materials and techniques, as well as eight acres of demonstration gardens. The center received LEED Platinum certification and has educated over 800,000 visitors on water conservation, renewable energy, and adapting to the desert environment.

1. DESERT LIVING
CENTER & GARDENS
AT T H E S P R I N G S P R E S E RV E
“... a fertile ground where culture
embraces sustainability...”
Primary Location Constant
36°10’11.19”N • 115°11’23.28”W
Mojave Desert
Las Vegas, NV

2. 2011 WMR DESIGN AWARDS
PROJECT DESCRIPTION FORM - Page 1 of 2
Name of Project: Desert Living Center at the Springs Preserve
Project Identification Number: WMRB11061
Project Category (choose one) -
Distinguished Building Awards- Recognizes significant achievements in the planning, design and execution of recent
BUILT projects.
Unbuilt Design Awards – Recognizes achievements in architectural design for commissioned projects that may or may
not be built.
Type of Project: Public Works
Completion Date: June 2007
Type of Construction: New Construction
Materials Used: Straw Bale, Rammed Earth, Stratified Concrete, Reclaimed Lumber, FSC-Certified Glu-Lam Beams
Building Area: 54,000 sq. ft.
Statement of Design Approach:
The five principal buildings incorporate many sustainable characteristics, yet each building is different to experiment with
the effectiveness of each design principle. Some sustainable design strategies as related to the LEED Platinum
certification are addressed as follows:
• Sustainable Sites: Bike racks and alternate fuel vehicle parking are provided. Light-colored roofing and paving reduce
heat islands. Over 60 acres of desert and wetlands have been restored on site. All lighting is designed to reduce light
pollution.
• Water Efficiency: Irrigation systems are water-efficient. Black and gray water is treated and reused onsite. Waterless
urinals and water-efficient fixtures are used throughout.
• Energy Atmosphere: Mechanical systems achieve a 40% to 50% reduction in energy use and are free of HCFC’s and
Halons. Photovoltaic power and solar water heating are used to reduce grid dependance.
• Materials Resources: Building materials use recycled content and are locally sourced. Materials also are of rapidly
renewable crops and from certified sustainable forests. Recycling collection bins are placed onsite.
• Indoor Environmental Quality: All indoor materials and coatings meet VOC limits. Individual occupants can control
lighting and operable windows, and all regularly occupied spaces provide daylight and views.
• Innovation and Design Process: The buildings are designed to educate the community on Sustainable Design.
The DLC reflects the local environment at every opportunity, beginning with solar orientation to optimize the lighting and
heating benefits of the sun. Submerging parts of the structures below grade utilizes the earth as a thermal insulator.
Above ground, 24-inch rammed earth and straw bale walls resist heat gain or loss, while roofing designs promote water
collection and interior daylight. Engineering systems are minimized due to rapid degradation of technological
effectiveness and high power consumption. So the buildings mostly use passive sustainable design principles (ex.
operable windows, cooling towers, day-lighting, and solar hot water) for robust and efficient operations.
The gardens and other landscaping areas included many unique and sustainable techniques. Many of the Mojave native
plants are from seed collected in the Las Vegas Valley and most of the native cacti and native yucca species were
salvaged from developing local areas. Artificial wetlands produce reusable water from sewage collected at the Springs
Preserve. The treated grey water is reused within the DLC and gardens to reduce the need for potable water.
Additionally the use of photovoltaic cells fixed throughout the site produce sustainable electricity.

3. 2011 WMR DESIGN AWARDS
PROJECT DESCRIPTION FORM - Page 2 of 2
Name of Project: Desert Living Center at the Springs Preserve
Project Identification Number: WMRB11061
Narrative (Limited To 400 Words):
Located in Las Vegas, the Desert Living Center (DLC) is a $40 Million facility on the 180-acre Springs Preserve campus.
The 54,000 square foot center and 8 acres of gardens strive to create a unique sense of place while serving as a catalyst
for individual and community change from being “in the desert” to being “of the desert.” The center consists of five main
buildings and a several small structures all integrated into the landscape and function as sustainable exhibits. Each
building has different sustainable characteristics as to experiment with the effectiveness of the different design principles.
The facility received a LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The DLC promotes sustainable living in the Mojave Desert, showing visitors how to adapt their lifestyles to a desert
environment. The DLC honors historical sustainable principles developed by other life living within similar environments.
For example, the Anasazi Indians oriented structures around solar optimization, and used thickened walls to reduce
heating and cooling needs. Additionally, the desert tortoise burrows into the earth for cooling.
The buildings and gardens work seamlessly with numerous education programs and varied interpretive experiences.
Forty three (43) hands-on interactive environmental exhibits, twenty (20) static sustainable design principles exhibits, two
temporary galleries, four classrooms, a dialogue center, library/research center, design lab and a technical training studio
offer educational opportunities to communicate a vision of sustainable life in the desert, and form the core of a compelling
array of experiences and stories aimed at helping people make intelligent choices which contribute to a sustainable future
in the Las Vegas Valley. The 8 acres of botanical gardens are integral to the educational purpose with the use of over
1,200 different species of plantings help to demonstrate many sustainable concepts that are displayed throughout the
gardens. Mojave native plant communities are the core of the botanical garden collection with some other Southwestern
climates also being represented. There is even an Enabling Garden; one designed specially for blind visitors. Many
exhibits educate homeowners and professionals about their own landscaping.
The DLC and gardens are grounded as a physical manifestation of sustainable facilities that create a vehicle for
educational interaction and dialogue. This interaction with the structures, exhibits, gardens, and other people will serve
as a cultural and social contribution toward living sustainably within the Las Vegas Valley and creating a more
harmonious relationship with the surrounding Mojave Desert.

4. CONCEPT STATEMENT
Located within the 180-acre Springs Preserve site, the Desert
Living Center (DLC) is an interactive-based public outreach and
applied research facility designed to “promote sustainable life
in the Mojave Desert.” Through dynamic, ongoing free-learning
education programs, the 54,000 s.f. center and gardens strive
to create a unique sense of place while serving as a catalyst for
individual and community change from being “in the desert” to
being “of the desert.”
The campus consists of five main buildings and series of small
auxiliary support structures integrated into the landscape and
designed to function as full size “sustainable architectural
exhibits.” The five principal buildings have similar architectural
characteristics to integrate with land and adapt to the hot desert
climate with minor variations from building to building. The purpose
of this is to allow the buildings to address different sustainable
design principles and measure their effectiveness at each building
and to be used as comparisons to one another. Building features
include but are not limited to the following; earth berming, roof
configuration, exterior wall building materials, light shelves, cool
towers, solar hot water heaters and radiant floor heating.
The goals for the Desert Living Center are grounded in a physical
manifestation of sustainable facilities as well as in creating a vehicle
for educational interaction and dialogue. This interaction with the
structures, its exhibits, the gardens, and other visitors will serve
as a cultural and social contribution toward living sustainably in
the Las Vegas Valley and creating a more harmonious relationship
with the Mojave Desert.

5. “This fragile desert jewel offers its resources to the community, with the
hope that strength, beauty and inspiration may grow from it.”
DESERT LIVING CENTER

6. Administrative/Retail Center ARCHITECTURE THE LAND
Dialogue Center
The design approach was grounded in constant and stable timeless building
strategies that define the “place” of the project and allow for flexibility to meet future
owner, visitor, and community needs. The Desert Living Center honors the historical
and cultural precedents of sustainability principles through applied research of
other historical structures based on solar orientation and use of thickened walls
Solar Calendar Gathering Space
as thermal mass to reduce heating and cooling needs. Cool towers and courtyard
Microclimate Exhibit
designs have been used in Middle-Eastern countries of similar hot arid climates for
over a thousand years.
Rotunda Galleries
The basic design reflects the local environment at every opportunity, beginning with
latitudinal/longitudinal solar orientation to optimize the benefits of the sun as a
Sustainable Living Center lighting and heating source, then designed for climate conditions and the physical
environment. This concept continues underground, utilizing the earth as a thermal
insulator for the structures by integrating the buildings into the land. The design
Design Lab then carries above ground where the mass, thickness of walls, and depth of
openings assist in protecting heat gain and loss. This is capped by using
Constructed Waste Water Wetlands
long roof overhangs to protect the buildings from summer heat
gain while allowing the low sun of winter to
03
4 Desert Moon Amphitheater Watering Can Amphitheater warm the interior spaces.
Frame House
Tool Shed
Desert Living Center Gardens
200' 100' 50' 0

7. D E S E RT L I V I N G C E N T E R
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
1
9
4 23
A
4
7 3
4 1 6
8
4
8
19
21
17 E
20 22
11 D
16 8
4 8 9
3
8 24
C 18
10 B 25
15 4
4 11
9
14
12 A ADMINISTRATIVE/RETAIL CENTER 1 office 10 meeting room 18 food preparation
13 3 B DIALOGUE CENTER 2 conference room 11 lobby 19 sustainable home
C ROTUNDA GALLERIES 3 restrooms 12 docent lounge 20 design lab
4 D SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTER 4 storage 13 docent work room 21 technical training studio
E DESIGN LAB 5 security 14 reception 22 desert moon amphitheater
9
6 courtyard 15 temporary exhibit space 23 garden plaza
7 elevator 16 solar calendar gathering space 24 loading
8 cool tower 17 “a day in your life” sustainability 25 drop off
64' 32' 16' 0
9 mechanical yard gallery

8. D E S E RT L I V I N G C E N T E R
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
22
5
1
A
8
8 2
4 6 7 3
6 12
18 8
17
9
13
D 16 E
18
9 14 1
18
18 7 8
7 3
8 3 19
3 C 4 21
4 20
5 4 15 22
4
B
10 A ADMINISTRATIVE/RETAIL CENTER 1 office 10 classrooms 19 loading
B DIALOGUE CENTER 2 conference room 11 lobby 20 drop off
C ROTUNDA GALLERIES 3 restrooms 12 “nature exchange” 21 receiving
8 D SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTER 4 storage 13 welcoming gallery 22 electrical room
E DESIGN LAB 5 break room 14 reception
6 courtyard 15 temporary exhibit space
7 elevator 16 resource library
8 cool tower 17 library garden
64' 32' 16' 0
9 bridge 18 overlook

9. ADMINISTRATIVE/RETAIL CENTER
Straw Bale Construction
“To inspire communities to sustain our land and embrace our culture.”
- The Springs Preserve Mission

10. Nature Exchange
A hands-on experience
for children to learn,
discover and interact ADMINISTRATIVE/RETAIL CENTER
with nature and
The Desert Living Center
its effect on the
used rice straw bales,
environment.
an agriculture waste
product, for two of the
five buildings on site. The
straw is an outstanding
natural insulator which
minimizes the heat load
on the building and
reduces the amount of
wood framing needed.
Administrative Office

11. DIALOGUE CENTER
Passive Evaporative Cooling
The cool towers serve as the primary
cooling system, capturing warm desert air,
funneling it through moist pads and into
the room, naturally cooling the building.

12. SOLAR CALENDAR
GATHERING SPACE
Entry to the sustainability and temporary galleries.

13. SUSTAINABLE
LIVING CENTER
Rammed Earth Construction
Layers of local dirt are shoveled
between forms and compacted
down, slowly building the
rammed earth walls.

14. The Design Lab offers Las Vegas
residents and design professionals
the inspiration, strategies and
tools they need to influence the
future of their community
and environment.
DESIGN LAB
Rammed Earth Construction

15. WELCOMING GALLERY
The Welcoming Gallery features a scale
model of the center. Visitors can also
pivot touch screen monitors to explore
the 3D model and watch flash animated
explanations of the sustainable building
techniques used on the site.

16. Various interpretive sculptures were
incorporated into the buildings and site.
They highlight the energy-saving INSIDE/OUT GALLERY
aspects of the architectural design,
such as natural ventilation, solar
angles, and reclaimed water.

17. SUSTAINABLE GALLERY
The exhibits illustrate the benefits of recycling, conservation and alternative energy
sources in a fun and interactive environment for adults and children of all ages.

18. SITE GARDEN FEATURES
Integrated into the DLC buildings are five acres of gardens demonstrating
desert-appropriate water and energy conserving design solutions. Garden
exhibits are used to further Mojave Desert education in areas of conservation
and protection of natural resources, landscape planting design and irrigation.
“The garden must be prepared in the soul first
or else it will not flourish.”
- English Proverb

19. Waste water wetlands system for
the entire Springs Preserve site is
located in the Desert Living Center
Gardens. The wetlands cleans
waste water which is pumped
back into buildings to flush toilets,
saving potable water.
DESERT LIVING GARDENS
Constructed Wetlands

20. TRANSFORMATION
With over two million valley residents, Las Vegas is the world’s largest city
incorporated post 1900. Today, we survive on a division of water rights
among seven states and Mexico established by the Colorado River Compact
of 1922, a time when Nevada’s population was less than 80,000. To protect
this limited natural resource, this project was built to educate and transform
our community from being “in the desert” to being “of the desert.”
AFTER OPENING
• More than 800,000 people have visited the Preserve’s museums and galleries.
• Approximately 200,000 have attended a special event at the Preserve.
• More than 100,000 students have participated in field trips, making the
Preserve the most visited attraction in Las Vegas for K-12 school groups.
• More than 1,000 local teachers have receive professional development
training and the tools to conduct self-guided tours of the facility and
enhance classroom and curriculum.
• More than 150 Eagle Scout projects have contributed to the ecological
restoration of the site.
• Volunteers have contributed more than 102,500 hours of service.
• The Springs Preserve works closely with the Clark County School
District, the University of Nevada Las Vegas and Reno, the College of “A true conservationist
Southern Nevada and other community organizations to develop and
maintain curriculum that reinforces classroom studies and engages
is a man who knows that the world
students throughout practical application.
• Free, interactive field trips led by staff and docents include pre- and is not given by his fathers,
post-visit curriculum developed for grade-specific audiences. Tour and
activity themes include animals, sustainable practices, water, plants, but borrowed from his children.”
archaeology, architecture and adventure.
- John James Audubon