City of Rochester Maplewood Nature Center

Connecting Rochester’s Community with Nature

As part of the City of Rochester’s investment in expanding access to nature, the $7.8 million Maplewood Nature Center connects residents and visitors with the region’s flora, fauna, and geology through interactive exhibits, hands-on learning experiences, and outdoor programming. Situated along the Genesee River, the historic 1945 building celebrates the park’s rich natural heritage, while providing new opportunities for environmental education in an urban setting.

Operated by the City of Rochester Department of Recreation and Human Services, the Maplewood Nature Center serves as a collaborative hub for community partners, including the Rochester City School District, Rochester Museum & Science Center, Seneca Park Zoo, and the University of Rochester. Through year-round programming, the facility promotes outdoor equity, environmental stewardship, and nature-based learning for youth and residents of all ages.

LaBella provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, energy, and sustainability engineering services as a subconsultant to Architectura, PC, for the City of Rochester. Working as part of an integrated design team, LaBella supported the City’s vision of achieving net-zero annual energy consumption while helping secure up to $900,000 in funding to advance the project’s carbon neutrality goals. Completed in July 2026, the Maplewood Nature Center represents a lasting community asset that strengthens connections to the natural environment while supporting Rochester’s long-term sustainability initiatives.

Engineering a Sustainable Community Resource

Mechanical & Plumbing Engineering

LaBella designed high-performance mechanical and plumbing systems to support the Maplewood Nature Center’s net-zero energy goals and long-term operational efficiency. The mechanical system utilizes a 250-foot-deep geothermal vertical bore field located in the adjacent parking area to provide renewable energy to water-to-air heat pumps throughout the facility. A dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) with a geothermal heat pump and energy recovery ventilator provides efficient ventilation while improving indoor air quality and reducing energy consumption.

LaBella also designed a complete replacement of the building’s water distribution system, incorporating new, code-compliant, water-conserving plumbing fixtures that meet accessibility requirements and support sustainable building operations.

Electrical Engineering

The electrical design included upgrades to the building’s electrical service to support new mechanical equipment, renewable energy systems, and modern facility operations.

LaBella coordinated the electrical infrastructure required for the rooftop solar photovoltaic array, ensuring the system was properly sized and integrated with the building’s electrical distribution system. The project also included electric vehicle charging stations to support sustainable transportation initiatives and further advance the City of Rochester’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Structural Engineering

LaBella provided structural engineering services to support the adaptive reuse of the existing facility and accommodate new building systems required to achieve the project’s sustainability goals.

Design improvements included minor repairs to existing masonry load-bearing walls, replacement of the existing tectum roof deck, and reinforcement of roof joists to support the additional loads associated with new mechanical equipment and the rooftop solar photovoltaic array.

Sustainable Design

A rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array was designed to utilize approximately 80% of the available roof area, generating 43 kW of solar-generated electricity to offset the facility’s electrical consumption. LaBella evaluated the electrical capacity and physical configuration of the PV system to support detailed energy projections and integration with the building’s electrical service.

The project also included electric vehicle charging stations, further supporting the City of Rochester’s sustainability goals and commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

LaBella Celebrates the Opening of the Maplewood Nature Center

LaBella was proud to join the City of Rochester and our project partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Maplewood Nature Center.

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Groundbreaking Ceremony

City of Rochester Breaks Ground on Maplewood Nature Center

The City of Rochester has begun construction on the Maplewood Nature Center, a new destination designed to connect residents with nature through environmental education, programming, and outdoor experiences.

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