Natural Resources Building

Recipient of the Architecture and Energy Building Excellence Award in 1993, the Natural Resources Building officially established Fentress as a pioneer in sustainable design.

As the first design in the nation to incorporate indoor air quality improvement as a goal, it guided the development of industry standards such as specifying low-VOC materials and implementing recycling and construction waste management. Fentress' design recalls the State Capitol campus' geometry. The building's main section consists of a 675-foot curved façade, anchored by an off-center rotunda that serves to orient visitors. Innovative laboratory space, responding to 21 specific research focus areas, further reflects the essence of the environmental agencies' identity and mission.