Swaner EcoCenter
{{Short description|Nature Preserve in Summit County, Utah}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Swaner EcoCenter
| image = Swaner EcoCenter Logo.jpg
| type =
| founded_date = {{Start date|1993}}
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| location = Park City, Utah, United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|40.7217|-111.5377|display=inline,title}}
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| former name = Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.swanerecocenter.org/}}
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File:Grus canadensis -Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, Dayton, California, USA -flying-8.jpg, one of the more than 90 species of birds found at the Preserve.
{{Cite web
|title=Swaner Preserve
|publisher=Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter
|url=http://www.swanerecocenter.org/preserve-ecocenter.html
|accessdate=October 2, 2011
}}]]
File:2016.08.20 11.42.54 DSC05648 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
The Swaner EcoCenter is a nature preserve and Utah State University Distance Education site located in Snyderville Basin near Park City, Utah. Swaner encompasses a {{convert|1200|acre|adj=on}} wildlife refuge, a {{convert|10000|sqft|adj=on}} state of the art environmental education facility, a {{convert|100|acre|adj=on}} farm, and {{convert|10|mi}} of trails.
{{Cite web
|title = History
|publisher = Swaner Preserve and Eco Center
|url = http://www.swanerecocenter.org/about_us/history.html
|accessdate = October 2, 2011
}} The EcoCenter works to preserve the land and the human connection to the natural landscape, to educate the local and broader communities about the value of nature, and to nurture both the ecosystem and the people connected with it.
{{Cite web
|title = Our Mission
|publisher = Swaner EcoCenter
|url = http://www.swanerecocenter.org/about_us/mission.html
|accessdate = October 2, 2011
}} The EcoCenter was designed by architect Soren Simonsen to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification, the highest standard set by the U.S. Green Building Council.
{{Cite web
|title = LEED
|publisher = Swaner EcoCenter
|url = http://www.swanerecocenter.org/preserve-ecocenter/leed.html
|accessdate = October 2, 2011
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110826010557/http://www.swanerecocenter.org/preserve-ecocenter/leed.html
|archivedate = August 26, 2011
}}
History
The preserve began as a donation of {{convert|190|acre}} of land in 1993 by the Spring Creek Angus Ranch Partnership in memory of Leland Swaner. Over the next decade several parcels of land would be added, growing the preserve to more than {{convert|1000|acre}}. In 2003, Swaner purchased what is now known as the Swaner Farm, adding {{convert|107|acre}} to the preserve.
In 1933, the iconic white barn was built by the Fletcher family who purchased the farm in 1906 and operated it for more than 35 years.
{{Cite web
| title = Swaner Farm
| publisher = Swaner EcoCenter
| url = http://www.swanerecocenter.org/preserve-ecocenter/swaner-farm.html
| accessdate = October 2, 2011
}} The Fletchers sold the entire farm to the Wallin family who owned the land until 2003 when it was acquired by Swaner.
In January 2010, Utah State University (USU) President Stan Albrecht and the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter Board of Directors announced that the refuge and center would be transferred to USU. The gift totaled in excess of $30 million, making it the largest gift in USU history.
{{Cite web
| last = Vitale
| first = Tim
| title = Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter Makes Largest Gift in USU's History
| publisher = Utah State Today
| date = 15 January 2010
| url = http://www.usu.edu/ust/index.cfm?article=42009
| accessdate = 2011-10-02
}} Just one year later, in January 2011, classes began at the center through USU Distance Education.
{{Cite web
| title = USU Degrees at the Swaner EcoCenter
| publisher = Utah State Today
| date = 21 December 2010
| url = http://www.usu.edu/ust/index.cfm?article=48563
| accessdate = 2011-10-02
}}
See also
{{portal|Utah}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.swanerecocenter.org/|name = Swaner EcoCenter Website}}
- {{official website|http://www.usu.edu|name = Utah State University Website}}
{{Utah State University}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Summit County, Utah
Category:Protected areas of Summit County, Utah
Category:Nature centers in Utah
Category:Utah State University
Category:Sustainable building in the United States
Category:Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum certified buildings