View of the Master Plan showing both 2009 and 2010
Approach to the Hardin Visitor Center through the Woodland Court
View of green parking facility from Piedmont Park
Pedestrian path connects Piedmont Avenue, the Garden and the Park
Beautiful hydrangeas in the Southern Seasons Garden
The 100,000-gallon cistern was made of 36 segments like this one
Even the colorful nasurtiums are edible in the future Edible Garden
The soaring Canopy walk will open in 2010
Landscape architect's rendering of the future Cascade Garden
All information is subject to change. |
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About the Green Expansion
Introduction
The first phase of the Green Expansion provides beautiful new gardens and amenities for members and visitors to enjoy for years to come. When complete in 2010, the project will position Atlanta Botanical Garden at the forefront of botanical gardens around the world. Five key areas of human and environmental health are emphasized during the construction phase: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
New construction deploys a sweeping array of energy-saving strategies with environmental sustainability considered in every aspect of the project. Trees removed as a result of construction were all recycled. With the planting of hundreds of young trees throughout the Garden, the tree canopy will be rejuvenated, becoming healthier and greater than previously.
The Garden’s Executive Director Mary Pat Matheson notes, “These new projects are transformational for the Garden, which consistently ranks as one of the most popular destinations for Atlantans and tourists alike.”
Visitor Center & Woodland Court
The Allen and Gail Hardin Visitor Center provides a beautiful and easy new entry experience for visitors and increased synergy with Piedmont Park. The Visitor Center is a dramatic, transparent structure filled with natural light. The LEED-certified Visitor Center includes: insulated glass, wood certified to be from local sustainable sources, natural daylighting and a green roof over head. Video programs will be available in the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Garden Theater, while the Garden Gift Shop doubles in size and highlights botanical merchandise and certified fair trade items in its mix of environmentally-savvy gifts.
Visitor Center Green Roof
Green roofs, quite simply, are rooftops that are designed with a waterproof membrane and planted with drought and heat-tolerant plants such as grasses and sedums. Intensive green roofs have deep soil (as much as 24 inches) that allow for shrubs and perennials to grow and create a garden-like landscape. Extensive roofs are shallow, providing just enough soil mix for low growing plants like sedum and native grasses. The extensive roof is less expensive to build yet provides most of the benefits of the more intensive design.
Plantings of both types cover nearly 50% of the Visitor Center roof area and provide natural cooling, sound insulation, additional garden area for visitors and even new wildlife habitat. Five layers of materials provide waterproofing for the interior and growing medium lends support for the vegetation. Run off is elimated, as rainwater falling on the green roof is absorbed by the plants.
Green Parking Facility
The signature Parking Facility alleviates a pressing parking issue at the Garden. Three sides of the Parking Facility are tucked into a steeply-sloped, blighted hillside between the Garden and Piedmont Park. Multiple-level parking will require only a 1-acre footprint, enabling a transformation of both the current Garden parking lot and the Piedmont Park Conservancy Magnolia Hall parking lot (nearly 3 acres) to green space. Benefits of the new parking facility include ease of entrance, shade for cars, reduction in the heat island effect, accessibility for all, and plenty of parking. On opening day, the facility will be 85% screened and greened by a large berm planted with large trees, shrubs and plantings. The Parking Facility will be completely veiled by greenery after 48 months. Purchase a Multi-Visit Parking Card on-line after April 1 and save.
Pedestrian Path
Getting to the Garden becomes easier with the new Pedestrian Path, a 12-foot wide walkway that connects pedestrians from Piedmont Avenue to the new Visitor Center and directly to Piedmont Park. The path provides safe access for people, strollers and wheelchairs, all of which are completely separated from cars.
Southern Seasons Garden
Garden curators and designers established goals for the upper woodland: expand plant collections, identify unique features of the site, draw upon the characteristics and vernacular of southeastern woodlands to create a stunning woodland garden design that supports education and collections objectives.
The focus is on beautiful color every season. Magnolia in springtime, Hydrangea in summer, Maple in fall and Witch-hazel in winter will provide year-round interest and color. Newly re-designed Alston Overlook, the highest point in the Garden or in adjacent Piedmont Park, provides a wonderful view of the Parterre Garden and the Atlanta skyline.
Water Conservation
A 100,000-gallon capacity cistern was installed underground in December 2007 to aid in water conservation. The cistern harvests storm water from a seven-acre watershed and provides irrigation for 40% of the new gardens. Rainfall of 1.2 inches is needed to fill it to capacity.
In 2008, filters were installed and the cistern was undergoing testing and use on a limited basis. This "underground lake" was planned 5 years before the drought years of 2006-2007.
Also in 2008 refurbished wells at the Garden were providing water for the Cherokee garden, Great Lawn, Conifer Garden, Strickland garden, Robinson Gazebo, Japanese garden, Parterre garden and Rose garden.
Edible Garden (Opening Spring 2010)
An exciting new Edible Garden will be installed in place of the former parking lot on this flat, sunny location, moving the Garden from "asphalt to asparagus". Both ornamental and edible, the Edible Garden will be filled with vegetables from around the world, aromatic herbs, edible flowers, tree fruits, soft fruits, container plantings, arbors and allées.
An outdoor cooking demonstration kitchen will be a focus of the Edible Garden, where Slow Food and gourmet chefs will provide classes and tips on using delicious, healthful produce freshly harvested. Plenty of Educational programming will supplement this garden.
Canopy Walk (Opening Spring 2010)
One of the highlights of the Green Expansion will be the graceful Canopy Walk, a 600-foot “treewalk” that will provide a breathtaking journey through the treetops of Storza Woods. The only tree canopy-level pathway of its kind in the U.S., the new structure is certain to become an icon for the city of Atlanta.
Starting on grade, a handicapped-accessible slope of 3.67 degrees takes visitors to its highest elevation, 40 feet above the ground (!), where they may enjoy an intimate experience inside the tree canopy. A feat of engineering and design, the Canopy Walk is supported by a virtually invisible system of steel cable wires designed to hold the structure firm and steady without impacting tree roots. This graceful yet strong suspension walkway has been designed and engineered with respect to its surroundings, and will result in minimal impact to the forest floor, and no impact to the most significant trees.
Cascades Garden (Opening Spring 2010)
The original driveway up to the Garden House will be removed and a cascading, dramatic water feature and hillside gardens will replace it.
The sights and sounds of waterfalls and rippling cascades will enhance the lush gardens surrounding it, filled with colorful and bold-textured tropical plants and hardy tropicals. Sunlight pouring in will put this beautiful garden in striking contrast to the woodland gardens all around it.
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