This new 19,000 sq. ft. center serves as a destination for visitors, students, and experts in botany and horticulture. Developed for the University of Missouri Extension, Springfield- Greene County Park Board, and Friends of the Garden, Inc., the center will house public meeting rooms, learning labs for gardening groups, administrative offices, and open museum exhibit spaces.

The $3.1 million building is sited at the Close Memorial Park, nestled into the hillside, overlooking the meadows of Drummond Lake.

Natural views, sun angles, wind patterns, material utilization, and the sequence of discovery and movement are all elements carefully considered by the design team to ensure maximum drama and experience by the general public and users of this facility. Maximizing efficiency in the construction, and sensitivity to nature are important aspects of this project while minimizing the building’s impact on the existing park and its environment.