Established in 1971, Wolf Ridge welcomes over 12,000 visitors annually to its 2,000-acre campus in Finland, MN, offering immersive outdoor experiences and emphasizing sustainability in all facets of human life. In a bid to improve efficiency, safety, and educational impact, Wolf Ridge enlisted the services of CR-BPS to formulate and execute a comprehensive Strategic Facilities and Land Stewardship program. The program sought to tackle issues related to aging infrastructure, environmental impact, and operational efficiency.
Services Provided
I became introduced to CR-BPS and Nancy Schultz just as Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center began to create its long-term mission of “educating and driving future generations into better more sustainable and resilient relations between our natural and built environments”. Our visions, goals, and missions were aligned from the start. We found a great long-term partner, colleague and resource in CR-BPS."
Peter Smerud – Executive Director
Gallery
Challenges
The one word that I would use to describe CR-BPS (and they even have the word in their name) is performance. Their projects perform. When soliciting teaming partners and comparing example projects, I would encourage potential CR-BPS clients and decision makers to talk to actual facilities owners and operators and compare the actual final project performance history. Talk won’t do it – performance requires action. You will find CR-BPS facilities actually perform!"
Peter Smerud – Executive Director
Approach
Addressing the concerns raised by Wolf Ridge, we collaborated with them to create a comprehensive Facilities and Land Stewardship program. The initiative kicked off with thorough assessments, employing life cycle evaluations to determine the Facility Condition Index (FCI). A detailed utility use map was meticulously developed to track energy sources, aligning with the objective of achieving carbon neutrality. Transportation impact assessments focused on the integration of electric vehicles to reduce the environmental footprint. CR-BPS strategically prioritized projects, starting with the MAC Lodge and aiming for Living Building Challenge certification.
Following that, initiatives were undertaken to improve the performance of the building envelopes of the Science Building and Summit Lodge, along with specifically addressing concerns related to the inadequate indoor air quality in the Education building. In navigating the challenges posed by the remote location and the unique aspect of buildings serving as educational tools, CR-BPS maintained a focus on building science principles. This encompassed overseeing construction, real-time energy benchmarking, and providing diagnostic services for multiple structures. By systematically approaching these concerns, CR-BPS played a pivotal role in fortifying Wolf Ridge’s infrastructure against potential issues associated with the aging facilities, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals and effective utilization as educational assets.
CR-BPS's "Systems Thinking" approach is a total picture approach. The Asset Resilience Management Plan provides the detail the decision makers need to support those critical long term performance decisions. (I.e. What is the Facility Condition Index for all our assets and where should our priorities lie? What is the cost of deferred maintenance and when do we reach that penalty point when replacement cost accelerates). CR-BPS systems thinking approach meshed well with WRELC’s goals."
Peter Smerud – Executive Director
Results
Implementation of the Strategic Facilities-Land Stewardship program yielded significant results. Comprehensive documentation of facility systems became a valuable resource for new staff, aiding in decision-making and budgeting for improvements. The strategic plan served as a pre-project roadmap, ensuring that projects aligned with overarching goals. By applying sound building science principles, Wolf Ridge avoided potential issues, such as higher energy bills and water leaks, contributing to the realization of carbon-neutral goals and improved operational efficiency. The MAC Lodge achieved full Living Building Challenge certification; a distinction held by only 24 buildings worldwide. The success of the program underscored the importance of careful planning, demonstrating the long-term benefits of proactive facility management.
The upgrade of the main dorm project on campus was the first litmus test of melding WRELC’s mission statement and on-site project delivery. The establishment of the "Living Building Challenge" as the gold standard of vision and performance for the center’s-built environment, was deliverable because of CR-BPS’s input and guidance."
Peter Smerud – Executive Director