October Campus Transformation: Steel, Finishes, and Fall Plantings

Teatown’s campus transformation is entering an exciting stretch this fall. The coming weeks will bring a visible milestone for the new Education Center as its steel framework begins to rise, while work inside the Nature Center focuses on flooring, finishing details, and preparations for inspections.

Together, these projects are creating a more accessible, sustainable, and welcoming home for environmental education, and new ways for our community to connect with nature.

A steel framework for future learning

Steel installation is scheduled to begin the week of October 19 and continue through the end of the month, giving visitors a clearer sense of the new Education Center’s shape and scale.

Crews are also preparing the building’s floor system, with insulation and a vapor barrier preceding work on radiant heating. Utility trenching and installation will continue alongside improvements to the access road and parking area off Blinn Road.

These steps lay the groundwork for a dedicated education building designed to support discovery and learning, indoors and out.

Flooring, finishes, and preparations for inspection

At the Nature Center, the October schedule includes painting, gallery flooring, lower-level floor finishing, and appliance installation. Crews will also address remaining construction details and prepare for cleaning, elevator inspection, and other required walkthroughs.

This work brings the renovated building closer to welcoming visitors. The exhibits will take shape in a subsequent phase, with additional fundraising helping bring those experiences to life.

From rain gardens to railings

Outdoor work includes rain garden piping, parking lot lighting, and railings at the Nature Center deck. Along with improvements near Blinn Road, these projects support the broader vision for a campus that is easier to navigate and reflects Teatown’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Plant screening moves ahead

We’ve moved up the schedule for planting along the gabion wall, and that work will begin soon.

The gabion retaining wall, built from natural stone held in wire-mesh baskets, provides essential support for the new access road to the Education Center. It helps accommodate the site’s sloping terrain while providing safe access for visiting school buses. Native trees and other plantings will soften the wall’s appearance and screen views from Blinn Road, helping it blend into the surrounding landscape as the vegetation matures.

Hard Hat Tours (all welcome 18+)

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Teatown’s campus transformation with a guided hard hat tour. See construction progress up close, learn what’s taking shape, and hear how the new and renovated spaces will support Teatown’s future.