MASSENA -- A new $7.6 million new nature center is coming to Robert Moses State Park in Massena to replace a building that had been destroyed by fire five years ago.

NYPA trustees approved the nearly $8 million contract at the most recent board meeting.

The 9,400-square-foot, single-story building will include exhibit space, reflecting the four major habitats found within the park—wetland/marsh, river, woodlands and meadows as well as classrooms. It will also include office space for the Friends of Robert Moses State Park Nature Center, which will run the center, and serve as a trail send-out station and equipment rental depot.

The facility will be constructed with green-building design features to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. They include geothermal heat pumps for cooling and heating, outside air intake and heat recovery, a rainwater reclamation system, outside rain gardens, efficiency lighting systems and sustainable material selection to enhance indoor environmental quality. Construction is set to begin this summer and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

NYPA has been working with Friends of Robert Moses State Park Nature Center, state agencies and other local stakeholders to rebuild the facility. It falls under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Recreation Plan for NYPA’s St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena.

NYPA awarded the construction contract to Bette & Cring, LLC of Watertown.

The Nature Center, which is owned by NYPA, was destroyed by an accidental fire in March 2010. NYPA has continued to fund the center in temporary locations since then. The new center will continue its mission to provide science education in indoor and outdoor settings for the public, schools and community groups, but in a larger, more modern facility.

“I’m very happy to welcome this great new facility to our community,” Judge Eugene L. Nicandri, a NYPA trustee and Massena resident said. “The story of this building rising from the ashes is a testament to how important this facility is to our community and to the dedication of a committed group of citizens who worked with the Power Authority to make this project happen.”

“We are happy to be taking this critical step toward restoring this great community facility to the North Country and to have a Northern New York firm build this state-of-the-art complex,” Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO said. “This is another demonstration of NYPA’s continuing support for the recreation and educational facilities around our projects.”