Conservation Foundation Unveils Plans For New Research Center At Milestone Bog

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF) has unveiled plans to build a new research and education building at its Milestone Cranberry Bog property that it will call "The Milestone Center."

The project is intended to advance the non-profit's mission of conservation, scientific research, and community engagement, and will also include a staff housing component.

The Milestone Center will serve as “a hub for research, environmental education, and community engagement, supporting our broadened scope of conservation work,” said Cormac Collier, President & CEO of the 62-year-old conservation organization, in a statement released on Monday. “NCF is proud to invest in facilities that will significantly benefit the community. The new Center will provide dedicated lab space and educational facilities for NCF staff, visiting research fellows, and island partners.”

The Conservation Foundation has set a target of $40 million to cover the costs of the research and education center, along with the employee housing. Collier told the Current that the Foundation has already raised 60 percent of that goal. 

The Foundation stated it was including an employee housing building with the Milestone Center "to alleviate the island’s housing pressures and guarantee reliable, affordable living options for NCF personnel now and in the years to come."

The Milestone Center will be located off Milestone Road, adjacent to the Foundation's actively farmed cranberry bogs. NCF has tapped SMP Architects and Viridian Landscape Studio for the design of the building, and anticipates an 18-month construction period.

The Research & Education Center’s main level floor area is planned to be 10,000 square feet, and the building is being designed to optimize functional space by incorporating below-grade and external programming features. Additionally, the building will feature LEED certification, solar energy, an innovative wastewater treatment system, and native landscaping.

The housing plans are focused in the Milestone area, as well as at existing NCF residences. Both the Center and the housing will be fully donor-funded.

NCF is planning stakeholder engagement sessions to take place over the coming months.

“Since 1963, the Foundation has been at the forefront of stewarding and protecting Nantucket’s ecosystems to be a resource for all Nantucket residents and visitors,” said Collier. “The Milestone Center is a natural evolution of our work, providing stable and secure housing options for our employees, creating space to enhance our research capabilities and educational outreach, and remaining steadfast in our mission of land stewardship.

"As stewards of over 9,000 acres of land, 17 miles of coastal shoreline, and 100 miles of trails, NCF is committed to ensuring that any infrastructure aligns with the organization’s conservation values," he continued. "The Milestone Center is thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its surroundings while minimizing environmental and visual impact."