The Conservation Center, headquarters of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, is located in Concord, N.H., on 103 acres of conserved land on the Merrimack River. The Conservation Center demonstrates the use of renewable natural resources and energy conservation techniques in design and construction. The campus is a great example of the evolution of energy-conscious design since 1980.
The original building’s energy-efficient, passive solar design was cutting edge for its time and received many accolades for its use of energy conservation, renewable energy sources, and imaginative use of native forest products.
The Weeks Wing addition in 1990 and French Wing addition in 2000 further demonstrated the Forest Society’s commitment to walking the walk by pursuing the same goals and achieving the first LEED-Gold certification in New England in 2003. The Conservation Center has won many awards over the years, including the 25-Year Award for Excellence in Architecture from the AIANH for its design by acclaimed architect C. Stuart White.
Ongoing exhibits are listed in our upcoming events.
We're also seeking artists who want to share their works in an exhibit at the Conservation Center in Concord. All of the prints displayed at art exhibitions are for sale and a portion of sales will benefit the Forest Society's conservation work.
Photos, prints, collages, and paintings using any media are welcome. Art depicting flora, fauna, landscapes, and other outdoor scenes are preferred.
The exhibit is in the center's main conference room and throughout the main office building. The Conservation Center is open weekdays from 8:30 am. to 5 p.m. to the public. If you would like more information or would like to sign up, please email Tina Ripley at tripley@forestsociety.org.
Annual sponsorship of the Merrimack River Outdoor Education and Conservation Area generously provided by Merrimack County Savings Bank and Northeast Delta Dental.
The Conservation Center is located on 103 acres of conserved land along the Merrimack River, known locally as "the floodplain." The Merrimack River Floodplain Forest is open to the public and a popular spot for nature walks and birding. When visiting, you may run into local school groups touring the floodplain with a Forest Society educator.
