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About SPU
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Water System
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Cedar and Tolt Watersheds
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Cedar River Education Center
Education Center Features
Located along the shore of Rattlesnake Lake and at the historic site of the old Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Cedar falls railroad camp, the Center consists of five buildings linked by covered walkways with Living Roofs. The Center features sustainable design, and green building standards linked with the natural setting.
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The Centers’ Architects Jones & Jones of Seattle, integrated environmental sustainable and aesthetic design. Ninety eight percent of the wood products meet LEED standards for sustainable harvest. The outdoor decking and benches are made from Smart Deck, a 100% recycled plastic and wood composite. In the Forest Court, native plants blend the Center into the natural ecosystem. Restrooms showcase waterless urinals which conserve over 45,000 gallons of water a year.
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The Seattle’s Office of Arts, 1% for Art Fund, commissioned local artist, Dan Corson to highlight water at the center. A collection of drums in the Forest Court beat with the help from a computerized irrigation system releasing a rhythm of water droplets onto the drumheads. In the winter, these Water Drums may be turned off to prevent pipes from freezing. We suggest you call ahead before coming in the winter months. View Water Drum video >
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Artist Dan Corson also turned tree root balls dug from the Watershed into hanging sculptures, interlaced with strands of gas-filled glass that mimics the flow of water and energy.
Welcome Room and Exhibit Hall
The Welcome Room and Exhibit Hall welcomes visitors to the Cedar River Watershed with a central stone fireplace, and a giant tree root system etched across the floor. It is a place for hands-on environmental learning. Interactive exhibits allow students and visitors be apart of the water cycle and learn about watershed protection and water conservation. A host of rich exhibits engage visitors in the Cedar River Watershed’s human history and the connections between plants and animals and water.
Loon and Lichen Learning Lab
The Loon and Lichen Learning Labs give school groups the opportunity to explore the science of the watersheds. Students study water samples, bugs, and plants under microscopes and conduct explorations in the Rattlesnake Lake watershed. The Learning Laboratories put the riches of the watershed in students' hands.
Heritage Research Library
The Heritage Research Library is home to 9,400 years of artifacts, documents, maps, and photographs of the Watershed. It also provides the casual visitor and serious researchers alike with original materials from the Watershed's past and current research projects and activities. The library is open by request and staff availability.
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Auditorium
The Auditorium provides a perfect gathering place for school and organized groups. It is also available for professional gatherings like non-profits and businesses desiring a tranquil retreat or for family celebrations and gatherings.
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Forest Court
The Forest Court with its trees, shrubs, native plants, a stream and Water Drum art, forms the Center's heart. The Forest Court is a quiet place of beauty, a spot from which a visitor can watch birds, listen to frogs and witness mist rising off the lake.
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