Above is an artist's rendition of the straw bale building that will serve as the Visitor Center for the Shorebird Nature Center of the City of Berkeley. Construction of the building will begin in the Spring of next year. The seed money for the center was provided by Berkeley Lab and the U.S. Department of Energy last year. The structure will be constructed largely with straw bales, an old construction practice that is both energy efficient and environment-friendly. The learning center will showcase technologies to reduce the environmental impacts of building construction and operations. Berkeley Lab will provide exhibits in the new structure. (XBD9811-02814.jpeg)