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Katie Shaw, manager of Reston's Walker Nature Education Center, freely admits she is beyond ecstatic about Reston's Nature House. And judging by the prevailing mood at the Nov. 21 formal opening of the facility -- which attracted a crowd of several hundred to the state-of-the-art environmentally friendly building on 72 acres off Glade Drive -- Shaw is far from alone.

"I'm going to be smiling for a long time to come," said Shaw, 43, a Reston native who also serves as executive director of the Friends of Reston, which raised the $1.5 million needed for construction of the building operated and maintained by the Reston Association.

"People could not stop smiling. I must have gotten a million hugs," Shaw said, comparing the opening to a happy family reunion attended by at least three generations of Restonians.

Robin Smyers, Reston Association board president, described Nature House as a "wonderful achievement." It will be a year-round hub for nature-oriented and environmental education.

Smyers, 45, who has lived in Reston since she was a teen, said her mother flew in from Dallas, Texas, just to attend the opening. "It was a great celebration personally for me and for RA," she said. "It makes all the hard work worthwhile."

Similarly elated was John Gasson, who spearheaded fundraising as president of the Friends of Reston. He said that Nature House's opening after an eight-year grass-roots effort was more than satisfying -- it was "phenomenal."

Like Shaw and Smyers, Gasson pointed out that Nature House is a true community effort. More than 1,000 separate donors, both from inside and outside of Reston -- including those as young as school children -- made it happen, said Gasson, 45, a telecommunications consultant and 17-year resident of Reston. 

Although the capital campaign has been active since a referendum on it passed in July 2001, the idea of a nature education center was part of Reston founder Robert E. Simon's plans 45 years ago.

"It's wonderful that this happened in Bob's lifetime," Shaw said of Simon, who turned 95 in April. "Everything worked out as we envisioned."

Simon, who attended the opening, said: "It absolutely fulfills one of my original visions. Although sadly delayed by an earlier RA action, it was obviously needed, and it's great."

Simon singled out Shaw, who has worked for RA for 18 years, for praise as well as Claudia Thompson Deahl, RA's environmental resource manger and Shaw's longtime boss.

Gasson, describing it as a "lifelong gift" to the community, joined Shaw and Simon in proudly crowing about Nature House's status as a certified, gold-level, green building.

Certified by the U.S. Green Buildings Council as part of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program Nature House is the only gold-level green building in Fairfax County's Hunter Mill District and one of only 17 in Virginia.

"This is a pretty special thing," Gasson said of Reston's ongoing history of leadership. "It helps Reston stand apart; it allows Reston to set the pace, be a leader of communities."

Although costs rose the longer construction took and escalated from original estimate of $700,000 to $1.5 million, the building's place as a model of environmental efficiency was not compromised, Gasson said.

According to Shaw, among the features that earned Nature House it gold-level status are a sustainable roof made of recycled aluminum-zinc alloy coated steel Galvalume; cypress siding, a regional product from trees grown only on the East Coast; oak floors made from wood reclaimed from Appalachian barns; all-natural Marmoleum flooring made from wood flour, rosin and linseed oil; and non-toxic, low-emitting materials for indoor air quality.

Nature House also boasts totally green bathrooms and a geothermal heating system.

Shaw said handouts with exact specifications of Nature House's many green features are available to the public. On-site tours, she added, will continue to be offered.

"We're doing everything we can to save energy and water. We're pretty proud, and it's pretty cool stuff," she said.

Tour 'Nature House'

-On-site tours of Reston's newly opened Nature House can be arranged by calling 703-476-9689. Tours will resume Saturday and Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 28 and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 29.

-In addition to Nature House, the Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, consists of woodlands, trails, streams and the entrance to Lake Audubon. Its mission is to "foster good environmental stewardship through the use of direct experiences and interpretive media" and to "enhance people's awareness, knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment of the environment."

-For more information, visit www.reston.org/ParksRecreation

Events/Nature/WalkerNatureEducationCenter/TheNatureHouse.