Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve recently learned that their Treetop Visitors Center had earned LEED Gold status. The $4 million building is one of only five new construction projects in the state to ever receive that designation as part of the environmentally friendly certification system. A glass plaque is being sent to the facility in recognition of the achievement. The new center opened last spring.

The organization is in the process of changing its name from center to preserve to reflect their focus on conservation. They’ve also begun to use a new logo (that’s it off to the left if you’re reading this via the site) and have plans to roll out a redesigned website in the coming months.

Incidentally, the current fiscal 2012 city budget does not provide any funding for Ruffner Mountain. The organization is under contract with the city to manage 500 of the 1,011 acres of land contained within.