Green City of the West
Cincinnati – The Civic Garden Center of Cincinnati has been engaging in green-sky thinking and an upcoming exhibit at The Betts House will showcase the flowering of that labor.
The exhibit — Cincinnati Green Building Signage Project — brings to life a proposal from the Civic Garden’s Green Learning Station to identify greater Cincinnati’s stock of green buildings as the area is gaining national attention for its eco-sustainable efforts. The exhibit will run September 29 – October 9, 2012. An opening reception will be held Friday, September 28, 5-8 pm. The Betts House will also have special hours on Saturday, September 29, 12:30 – 5 pm.
Visitors to The Betts House will be able to see a prototypical sign that the Civic Garden intends to “plant” in front of each of eight green buildings selected for the project’s first phase. A map calling out the buildings is part of the exhibit as are panels dedicated to identifying the green attributes of each structure. If funded, the signage program will enable area residents and visitors to point to major buildings exemplifying sustainable energy and environmental design that are part of Cincinnati’s green building movement. Beyond attracting architectural tourists, the colorful, eye-catching signage project will go the distance in promoting healthy environments – good for the planet and its people.
Signs (designed to recall a stalk of flowers) already in place at the GLS identify the facility’s own green roof, its solar array, rainwater harvesting system and pervious pavement, among other working installations. In keeping with the Civic Garden Center’s signage style, each sign that identifies one of the selected green building has six panels that would describe the project and how its owner has contributed to the green building movement in Cincinnati. One panel, though, will direct attention back to the GLS, where anyone can access cataloged information on each structure 24/7 through QR codes.
“We think using the Green Learning Station educational sign design is a cohesive way to ‘brand’ the buildings, while directing the public to our site. When they visit our facility they can learn about green public buildings, but also what they can do to green up their own spaces,” explains Vickie Ciotti, the Civic Garden Center’s executive director. Though still in the planning stage, Ciotti notes, “We’re hoping that businesses or individuals will step forward to adopt a sign.” The Civic Garden Center, she adds, also welcomes contributions to finish the interior build out of the Green Learning Station.
Green Buildings included in the exhibit:
Green Learning Station, Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
Fire Station No. 51, City of Cincinnati
Clark Montessori, Cincinnati Public Schools
Times Star Building, Hamilton County
Joseph A. Steger Center, University of Cincinnati
Griffin School of Informatics, Northern Kentucky University
Moerlein Lager House, Cincinnati Park Board
Entry Village, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Earth Connection, College of Mount St. Joseph
High Res Photo file: http://www.lohre.com/chuck/Cincinnati_Green_Signage.jpg
ABOUT THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTER OF GREATER CINCINNATI
Founded in 1942, The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati is the second oldest non-profit civic garden center in the State of Ohio. The Civic Garden Center is an oasis in the city – eight beautifully landscaped acres open daily to visitors at no charge and located 2.5 miles from downtown Cincinnati. Neighborhood Gardens touch 23 communities with over 47 active gardens. The Green Learning Station, which opened last summer, is a learning laboratory for students, professors and researchers to collect information about “green infrastructure,” or surfaces that let water go through them instead of into the storm sewers. http://www.civicgardencenter.org/, http://greenlearningstation.org/
ABOUT THE BETTS HOUSE
Built in 1804, Ohio’s oldest brick house is located in the Betts-Longworth Historic District near downtown Cincinnati. The Betts House is a museum of the built environment, offering exhibits and programs exploring architecture, historic preservation, building trades, construction technologies, and building materials. The Betts House is located two blocks west of Music Hall at 416 Clark Street. The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, 12:30 – 5 p.m. Other days and times are available by appointment. Admission is $2 per person. www.TheBettsHouse.org
The Betts House
416 Clark Street
Cincinnati, OH 45203
www.TheBettsHouse.org
513-651-0734
(12-7-19 URL redirect from lohre.com)