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The Ryan Resilience Lab is a global model for coastal resilience, designed to teach the world’s coastal residents and businesses how to respond as sea levels rise.
Not only does the Lab showcase sustainable living in flood-prone areas, it’s an epicenter for environmental research, community events, and even the arts. Explore what the Ryan Lab has to offer and come see it for yourself!
Join us for a tour of this remarkable new facility and an eye-opening exploration of how sea level rise will affect us all. Check out cutting edge green building practices and systems – floating docks, green roofs, solar arrays, rainwater capture, and much more. See sustainability best practices in action and learn about the “planned retreat” that will allow the river to retake the site as sea levels continue to rise.
The Lab is designed to withstand elements that will destroy many other structures around it. But the materials and solutions used aren’t out of reach for other builders and homeowners. Rain-absorbing landscaping, pervious paving, adaptable floodproofing, floating storage buildings – these are affordable solutions for structures that are built to last.
The Ryan Resilience Series – our eclectic assortment of on-site events, art exhibits and workshops – is designed to bring the community together to explore climate and environmental issues from many perspectives. Click below to see what’s coming up and get details on how to attend.
Building and site designs incorporate elevated structures, floating docks, and on-site energy production through solar arrays and battery backups with a goal of net zero energy use.
Living shorelines, rain gardens, pervious paving and green roofs to reduce stormwater runoff, rain barrels and cisterns to collect rainwater, and “gray-water” re-use in the building are all on display.
Designed for energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint, from recycled material usage to solar panels to high-efficiency lighting, including “sunlight harvesting” strategies.
Signage, displays and ERP staff educate visitors on resilience features and strategies while art exhibits inspire and public parks and green spaces offer new ways to experience the Elizabeth River.
With sea level rise projected to overtake the facility in 30-50 years, it’s built to be progressively preserved before ultimately succumbing to the river – an groundbreaking model for homeowners and developers.
Louis Ryan and his wife Pru were the lead donors for the Ryan Lab. Without their generosity and passion for environmental stewardship, we never could have completed this magnificent building.
“Developing on-land solutions to rising tides and rising sea level is not just a case of trying to make it more inhabitable for human beings. It’s also a case of making the land more friendly to the river.”
The Ryan Lab is a proud cornerstone of the EcoDistrict, a collection of like-minded businesses putting sustainable practices into play every day in Norfolk’s Knitting Mill Creek.
