The project: Located in southwest Missouri, the Neosho Fish Hatchery is the oldest continuously operating fish hatchery in the United States. As part of a $3 million campus enhancement, a new 9,200-sf visitor center was constructed to serve up to 100,000 visitors annually while strengthening environmental education and interpretive programming. The LEED Gold–certified facility serves as the focal point of the hatchery campus, which includes hatching ponds, a sturgeon building, and a freshwater stream.

The visitor center features a custom-built aquarium, immersive exhibits, a bookstore, and wet lab on the first floor, while the second floor houses administrative offices, conference space, a kitchen, and staff support areas. IMEG provided comprehensive mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, architectural lighting, and technology design services for the facility under an IDIQ A/E services contract.

The goal: The primary goal of the project was to create a highly sustainable, energy-efficient visitor center that enhances public education about aquatic resources while supporting the hatchery’s long-term operational efficiency. A key objective was achieving LEED Gold certification by optimizing energy performance, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and renewable energy integration.

The approach: IMEG supported the project’s sustainability and performance goals through integrated MEP design, commissioning, and LEED certification support. The team completed required LEED documentation and analyses, including water efficiency calculations, energy modeling to meet minimum energy performance thresholds, and indoor air quality compliance. Targeted system refinements were incorporated to improve HVAC controllability and occupant thermal comfort.
IMEG developed a comprehensive commissioning plan, reviewed the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design
(BOD), and verified the performance of critical systems, including HVAC, lighting and daylighting controls, and domestic hot water systems. A detailed commissioning report was prepared upon completion.

To support renewable energy goals, IMEG designed a vertical-bore, closed-loop, 40-ton geothermal system with water-to-air heat pumps and integrated rooftop photovoltaic solar panels. The team optimized well quantities, locations, and depths and completed the LEED Renewable Energy documentation for the photovoltaic system.

The outcome: IMEG’s integrated engineering, commissioning, and sustainability services helped the Neosho Fish Hatchery successfully achieve LEED Gold certification, significantly improve energy efficiency, and enhance visitor comfort and education. The project established a durable, high-performance facility that supports both public engagement and the long-term operational sustainability of this historic hatchery.