NCSU dedicates first 'green' building at Eastern 4-H Center

The new conference center building, which is awaiting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, is located at the Eastern 4-H Educational Center in Tyrrell County.

The 21,000-square-foot building will house a gymnasium, catering kitchen and dining facilities, an office and three classrooms.

The center features many recycled and sustainable materials. It contains insulation made from recycled denim, recycled ceramic tile, concrete exterior panels and bamboo flooring.

Lighting is controlled by sensors that turn off when a room is not occupied. The exterior glass has been treated to allow light in but keep heat out. A rain garden will also help filter storm runoff from the building.

The building will be dedicated at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

The Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center near Columbia is the newest of North Carolina’s five 4-H camping facilities. It opened in May 2001.

North Carolina’s 4-H program is based in N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which oversees the camps’ operations.