WHO: Galveston Bay Foundation will host a groundbreaking celebration at its new 30-acre bayfront site in Kemah on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. The campus will be an exciting new destination where people of all ages can connect with the Bay and appreciate the benefits of a healthy bay system.
WHAT: Kirksey’s innovative master plan for the Galveston Bay Foundation site in Kemah will be completed in phases. Phase 1 includes the land purchase, relocation of staff, and restoration of a “living shoreline” that will provide crucial habitat for fish and birds while also protecting from erosion. Phase 2 will focus on construction of the Gessner Center, a visionary new environmental education center designed to be net positive for energy and water use. Sustainable elements will include rainwater harvesting, natural storm water management, and use of appropriate building materials. The building is expected to meet the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most rigorous green building certification. Only 23 buildings around the world have earned this designation. The new facility will be the first office building in Texas to meet the Challenge.
WHY: The current Galveston Bay Foundation office has no water access and is located far from the Bay. It also lacks meeting and education space for on-site programs, and its size and configuration limit growth. The new headquarters will provide workspace for 30+ employees; classrooms, including a laboratory; meeting rooms; exhibit spaces; and more. Moreover, the new campus property will be a model for habitat restoration, conservation, and wetland preservation. By connecting visitors directly with the Bay and significantly expanding its environmental and education programs, Galveston Bay Foundation will be able to reach many more people, deepen their understanding of this unique place, and create future stewards of the Bay.
WHEN: October 29, 2019 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: 1725 SH 146
Interviews and b-roll opportunities:
- Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation President
- Terri Gale, Mayor of Kemah
- Galveston Bay Foundation Board Members, Donors, Supporters
- Photos and video of the Kemah site; renderings of the new facility
4 comments
I would like more information on an interview for a role in this project. Moving here from Florida the beauty of the bay is what got my attraction.
With that said, many questions followed about the area and it’s history. I am a Master Captain and in Florida I have given tourist and locals boat tours to educate, appreciate and respect our local wildlife and history.
I would like to do the same here on Galveston Bay Texas.
This is a topic that should intrest everyone.
Congratulations Galveston Bay Foundation. This is exciting news and I’m certain that we not the only ones looking forward to the happenings of all of the phases that you have set for not only the foundation but the entire surrounding communities as well.
Dennis & Lynn Pelletier
League City
So they’re building on the beach to preserve the Bay??? What an oxymoron
So they’re building on the beach to preserve the Bay??? What an oxymoron