Thompson Engineering – Transforming Education and Environment at the Fairhope NEST Learning Campus

Partners for Environmental Progress recently awarded a 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award to Thompson Engineering, a proven leader in the planning, designing, and construction of major transportation, economic development, and waterfront projects across the Southeast. Thompson Engineering worked closely with the project architect, Watershed, and the client, Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation. The project utilized the abandoned grounds of a historic school in Fairhope, AL, to provide an outdoor learning laboratory featuring native materials and sustainable living practices.

What is the Fairhope NEST Learning Campus?

The Pavilion at the Nest is Phase 1 of a three-phase improvement project. Designed by a talented team of landscape architects, architects, planners, and engineers, this outdoor classroom aims to provide a hands-on educational experience while promoting sustainable living practices. The project’s crowning achievements include receiving Alabama Outdoor Classroom and LEED Gold certifications, emphasizing its commitment to environmental stewardship and education.

Key Benefits of the Fairhope NEST Learning Campus

Native Plant Palette

The project prominently features a native plant palette that supports local wildlife and provides stormwater treatment. This thoughtful approach not only enhances the learning opportunities for site users but also serves as a natural habitat for various species.

Rainwater Collection and Wildlife Habitats

Two rainwater collection cisterns flank the new pavilion, providing water for the irrigation of site plantings. At the base of the northern cistern is a frog and toad habitat. This area is layered with wetland plants and oyster shells to filter runoff, offering a practical lesson in ecological cycles. Downed tree logs serve as borders for the habitat and a tangible example of the decomposition process.

Gabion Planters and Sensory Experiences

Connecting the outdoor classroom area to the adjacent lawn is a series of gabion planters with seating tops. These planters utilize salvaged materials and plants that focus on sensory experiences and pollinator provision, enriching STEAM education for local students and visitors.

Bioswale and Bird Populations

A bioswale along the site’s northern boundary filters and absorbs stormwater runoff before it reaches the municipal system. The plantings along the swale are selected for their ability to support local and migratory bird populations, adding another layer of educational value.

The Fairhope NEST Learning Campus is a shining example of how sustainability and education can go hand in hand. It includes features like rain gardens, a bluebird box trail, plant identification signage, and a greywater garden that filters and treats grey water biologically. The project even incorporates passive strategies to reduce energy use, such as a double roof system and natural ventilation.

One evening, Mayor Sherry Sullivan called to report that the front facade of a nearby former K-1 Center building had fallen off due to a windstorm. The project team decided to reuse these original clay tile bricks in the gabion walls, creating a unique feature students could learn from. This commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness highlights the project’s ingenuity.

“Thompson worked closely with the project Architects, Watershed, and the Client, FEEF, to develop a vision for the future of the NEST Campus. The goal was to expand upon the success of the Pelican’s NEST to create an outdoor learning campus that could provide flexibility for hosting events and expansion of the STEAM curriculum throughout the Fairhope feeder school program. Implementing sustainability and low-impact development techniques were priorities defined early in the design process and were at the forefront of all decisions made on the project. These techniques allowed for the NEST to become a Certified Outdoor Classroom, a designation administered through the Alabama Wildlife Federation. Thompson Engineering provided survey, landscape architecture, geotechnical, civil, and structural engineering services for the project. Of course, the overall success of this project could not have happened without great contractors, Witherington Construction and Father Nature Landscapes, as well as countless volunteers who assisted along the way,” – Christopher Grant, PLA, ASLA – Thompson Engineering.

Get Involved

The Fairhope NEST Learning Campus project expands STEAM education opportunities, provides research opportunities, and fosters a deeper understanding of the local ecology. It’s a testament to the community’s dedication to preserving the past while preparing for the future.

PEP extends special recognition to the project architects Watershed for their critical assistance with this project.