City of Rochester Breaks Ground on Maplewood Nature Center  

The Maplewood Nature Center will provide an educational venue to showcase the region’s flora, fauna, and geology in an urban setting.

On August 27, 2025, community leaders and government officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Maplewood Nature Center—marking an important milestone in the City of Rochester, New York’s commitment to providing an educational venue that will showcase the region’s flora, fauna, and geology along the Genesee River.

The Maplewood Nature Center project, expected to be completed in spring 2026, is located in an existing building constructed in 1945 at Upper Maplewood Park. Throughout its history, the building has been repurposed several times and currently serves as a training and safety facility.

The nature center will be used by the City of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Human Services in collaboration with local educational partners, including the Rochester City School District, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Seneca Park Zoo, and the University of Rochester. The center will offer a variety of programs and support outdoor equity for youth and city residents. By strengthening connections to nature within the urban environment, the center can positively impact the local community while promoting environmental stewardship and education.

LaBella is providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, energy, and structural engineering services for this $7.8 million project. In addition to updating the existing systems, an array of solar panels will be installed to generate energy and reduce the building’s consumption. Utilizing roughly 80% of the available roof space, it is estimated that the array could provide approximately 43 kW of solar power, generating about 40 kW of AC power to offset the building’s energy usage.

We’re honored to work with lead consultant Architectura and the City of Rochester to help create this connection to nature within the urban environment.