NJ Building Will Sport Sustainable Design

The Challenger Center for Space Science Education’s newest Learning Center will be the first such location to incorporate a sustainable building design in support of the interactive experience that immerses over 400,000 students a year in science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts.

The new Challenger Learning Center will be designed and built by the architectural, interior design and engineering, award-winning New Jersey firm, Cubellis. Mount Laurel Township was selected by New Jersey Educational Information Resource Center (EIRC) to be the home for the newest Challenger Learning Center.

Fifty Challenger Learning Centers across the US incorporate project-based learning and the theme of space exploration to engage students in critical thinking, decision-making, communication and teamwork.  

"This is incredibly exciting for us. Almost everything connected with space exploration includes an understanding of responsible and careful use of available resources to accomplish a mission," said Challenger Center Founding Chairman June Scobee-Rodgers. "We’re thrilled that this new Challenger Center in Mount Laurel will include ‘green’ themes for our teachers and students. It will help us continue our mission of creating a new generation of explorers."

The Mount Laurel Challenger Center will underscore the Challenger Center’s mission of "inspiring, exploring and learning" at every turn, by incorporating design concepts and technology that can provide learning opportunities for students. For example, the building will include solar panels and rain water collection systems that instructors can use for demonstration and teaching. The new Challenger Center is expected to be open in 2009.

FMI: www.challenger.org