FACILITY (Proposed)

The proposed facility is comprised of a number of elements.  The Offices and Control Building are central to
the radio telescopes and optical telescopes being the workhorses of the proposed facility. In support to these
functions are several facilities; a wind powered generator, a back-up generator, 3 meter water
tower, septic field, 5 meter hot water solar collector, telephone system and DSS communications
tower and a storage shed for vehicles and equipment.

The main building is the heart of the operation. It is about 4,000 square feet and has two stories,
a full first floor and a Control Room on the second floor with balconies to view the dish movements.
Please refer to the artist’s rendering of the building above. Spaces in the building include a public
communications area, office space, a library and conference room as well as support facilities such
as a lunchroom, copy area, storage, equipment control closet, and lab.

The building is designed to be non-combustible due to the forest location so will have a standing rib
metal roof with a slope designed to shed snow and will be clad in local fieldstone.  The building will
be on a raised area for good viewing of the entire site and will have berms against the exterior for
thermal control. Interior elements considered will be wood, where appropriate from sustainable
managed forests, and other finish materials will have recycled content, be recyclable or be of
renewable materials and be locally obtained as much as is currently feasible.

Heating is planned to be by radiant floor loops with a supplemental system for intermittent use.
Ventilation will be by operable windows and fan or convection systems where needed, such as in
equipment rooms. Power, as noted earlier, will be primarily wind generated and usage will be
minimized. PV solar panels will be mounted on the roof for power and circulating solar panels for
water heating. Lighting will be day lighting as much as possible, and fixtures will be strategically
placed and energy efficient.

The Control Room on the second floor will generate significant heat so convection systems will be
designed to release that heat in the summer and capture it in the heating months for the rest of the
facility.

Construction debris will be separated and directed to recycling centers where feasible in this remote
location. Construction air quality will be mitigated. Care to disturb a minimum of the site during
construction will be planned prior to construction start. The site will have minimal added
landscaping as the natural setting is of greater value than added material could be and maintenance
of new material would deplete the limited water supply and staff resources.

This self-sustaining facility will embody best practices of sustainable design.  It will be a model of
 “green” facilities and RAI will share these features with the public in communication of the
facility’s mission.