Berks Nature will host a ribbon cutting on March 21 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for The Rookery at The Nature Place, 575 St. Bernardine Street in Reading, Berks County

After breaking ground in June 2021, Berks Nature will celebrate the official completion and opening of The Rookery during an intimate ribbon cutting ceremony for Berks Nature’s closest friends and family members.

The Rookery is an environmentally responsible and aesthetically respectful addition to the existing campus of The Nature Place, built atop Berks Nature’s Nature Preschool.

Together, the airy interior space and rooftop patio of The Rookery can accommodate up to 300 people and provide a uniquely stunning vantage point over the nearly 100-acre Angelica Creek Park.

Since The Nature Place first opened in 2017, Berks Nature had identified a need for a covered structure to accommodate larger groups such as field trips and other private programs.

Berks Nature is eager to use The Rookery to expand its educational programs, increase profitability, and grow the community’s involvement in the preservation and appreciation of nature and its resources.

“This additional space will enable Berks Nature to significantly increase our impact in the community by helping to connect thousands of people to nature,” said Berks Nature President, Kim Murphy.

Additionally, The Rookery rooftop addition continues to model the future of sustainable architecture. The building creatively addresses energy efficiency by using sheep wool insulation and embracing natural light though its ample window design and placement.

In respect to Angelica Creek, which flows through The Nature Place campus, The Rookery has taken every opportunity to collect and filter its stormwater, from rain barrels, to natural wetland filtration, to a unique rooftop collection and treatment system.

Even The Rookery’s furniture has a story to tell, being made from recycled milk cartons!

These features are on full display to anyone visiting The Rookery and the larger LEED Gold Certified Nature Place campus to learn from and hopefully adopt in their own lives and communities.

The media is encouraged to join Berks Nature for The Rookery’s ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, March 21st, 2021 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at The Nature Place in Reading!

Following the official ribbon cutting, attendees will be invited to explore The Rookery and the recently re-opened Nature Place environmental education center.

Light snacks and refreshments will be provided by Devour Catering & Event Design while Berks Nature staff escort interested parties through guided tours.

The Rookery rooftop addition to The Nature Place was made possible through a generous anonymous donation.

The Rookery was designed by GWWO Architects, Inc., the architect firm responsible for The Nature Place LEED Gold Certified environmental education center completed in 2017, and was built by Burkey Construction.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Berks Nature website.  Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.  Also follow the Berks Nature Ambassadors Facebook page.

Since 1974, Berks Nature has been involved in land preservation, water protection, trail management, community gardens, education programs, State of the Environment, Eco-Camp and our valued partnerships that help connect people to nature and maintain the natural beauty of Berks County.

[Posted: March 15, 2022]

3/21/2022