Construction on a new intern village at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation in Lee County is underway. Stevens Construction, the general contractor, has begun site survey work at the project, at 3341 Sanibel-Captiva Road.<\/p>\n
The 30-bed La Gorce Family Intern Village housing project features three elevated buildings totaling 7,700 square feet. The buildings, which will house students, researchers and conservationists, will be connected by a shared elevated deck, pavilion and grand staircase.<\/p>\n
According to SCCF, the structures include an exterior amphitheater to be built on a circular clearing that will act as an informal daily living room and a flexible public space for field classes, lectures and performances. The pavilion will accommodate shared meals, workshops and hands-on ecological learning.<\/p>\n
SCCF, along with the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, will use the housing for seasonal interns conducting research, monitoring, education and advocacy work, the organization says.<\/p>\n
Fort Myers-based Stevens says the village was designed with resilience in mind.<\/p>\n
The construction company says to withstand potential storm surge and support the structural design, buildings will be elevated approximately five feet above FEMA\u2019s base flood elevation and it will incorporate a range of sustainable features. Among those features are an aluminum standing-seam roof, along with screened pavilions and porches designed to enhance outdoor usability.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As for the materials, they were chosen for their low maintenance requirements, durability and long service life, \u201censuring long-term performance in a demanding environment,\u201d Stevens says in the statement.<\/p>\n
Boston-based CO\u2013G Architecture, along with Amy Nowacki Architect LLC serving as local architect. designed the village.<\/p>\n
The cost of the village was not disclosed.<\/p>\n
SCCF was founded in 1967 as a land trust and works to protect Southwest Florida\u2019s coastal ecosystems through conservation, science, education and advocacy. The organization\u2019s headquarters was amid a remodel when Hurricane Ian hit in 2022 \u2014 pushing two feet of water into the building.<\/p>\n
The intern housing buildings were totally destroyed during the storm and eventually demolished.<\/p>\n