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After a two-year and 23-site evaluation process conducted by the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, a three-quarter acre site was chosen in the City of Santa Cruz. The property is prominently situated and highly visible from the wharf and boardwalk areas at the historic Fun Spot. The City of Santa Cruz offered the use of this for the Exploration Center and is working closely with the Sanctuary to manage the construction project.  The Exploration Center will be just steps from the ocean in Santa Cruz’s famed beach area at the corner of Pacific and Beach Streets, located in a district rich in visitor-oriented facilities and recreational attractions. The Municipal Wharf, the world-famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Steamers Lane, Depot Park and Lighthouse Point are all within an easy walk of the site. A recently constructed pedestrian and bike trail links with the site as well. This ADA-accessible trail also will connect to the proposed site of the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum, which will provide opportunities to create a vibrant hub of activity, integrated pathways, interpretive elements and community spaces. The site also provides a perfect venue for interpreting watersheds and human impacts on water quality within the sanctuary. Roaring Camp Railroad utilizes an active rail line bisecting the site and carries passengers up and down the San Lorenzo Valley watershed. The mouth of the San Lorenzo River and Neary Lagoon are adjacent to the site. The Building Thomas Hacker Architects Inc. has designed an architecturally distinct, two-story building with a gentle roofline, a highly visible interior and second-floor views to the ocean. U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. LEED emphasizes scientifically researched and state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development with emphasis on water consumption, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Click here for a more detailed description of Exploration Center green practices.
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