Beaufort County to build green office space at Crystal Lake Park

A vacant building in Crystal Lake Park on Lady’s Island is set to be transformed into green, eco-friendly office space.

Beaufort County leaders approved roughly $800,000 earlier this week to repurpose a 3,100-square-foot metal structure formerly owned by Butler Marine into a new home for the Beaufort County Open Land Trust, the county’s Water and Soil Conservation District, and the Friends of Crystal Lake.

The renovated office space will be powered by solar panels and feature “high efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting fixtures, and closed-cell foam insulation” to keep energy costs and carbon emissions to a minimum, according to county documents.

The project gives the county a chance to “lead by example,” planning director Tony Criscitiello said earlier this week.

“We are reducing our carbon footprint ... and we are making a green project,” he said.

Being mindful of environmental impacts is especially important at Crystal Lake Park, a 25-acre site on Lady’s Island Drive between Carolyn Drive and Rue Du Bois, county officials and conservation group leaders say.

The property has seven acres of lake, four acres of wetlands and 15 acres of upland is home to migratory-bird rookeries, alligators, otters and numerous other species.

Friends of Crystal Lake board president Peggy Allard called the building renovation project an “exceptional opportunity to make a huge impact on the community.”

Not only will there be new office space, but parts of the building could serve as a field trip destination and “living classroom” to teach children about ecology and biology, she said.

Criscitiello said there is the possibility of adding a butterfly garden and bee habitat to the area around the offices.

In addition to developing the new office space, the county plans to add a pavilion that can be rented out for events.

The price tag associated with the project concerned some Beaufort County Council members.

“Obviously its a great project and we are all excited to see it happen,” Councilwoman Cynthia Bensch said.

But Bensch — who, along with Councilman Rick Caporale, abstained from voting to fund the project — said she was “flabbergasted” by the “extremely exorbitant” cost of certain aspects of the building renovation.

Criscitiello defended the project — while it may be expensive to build, “we are investing in the future,” he said.

The energy-efficient building, which will provide the county with office space for at least 40 years, will be “inexpensive to operate,” he said.

“It’s a big investment on the front end, but in the long run it’s a good thing.”

Renovation of the former Butler Marine building and construction of the pavilion are expected to start within a week and finish by late September, Criscitiello said

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Beaufort County to build green office space at Crystal Lake Park."