Bellevue Botanical Garden Visitor Center
Bellevue Botanical Garden Visitor Center Lot Size: 53 Acres Building Size: 8,500 SF Location: Bellevue, Washington Primary Project Type: Civic
Bellevue Botanical Garden Center Visitor Center Since opening in 1992, the 53-acre Bellevue Botanical Garden has become one of the most popular public gardens in the Pacific Northwest. A growing interest in native plantings and gardening, as well as expanded programs, has drawn large crowds to the botanical gardens in recent years. The design of the new visitor center answers these needs while blurring the boundaries between architecture and the gardens. Balancing civic function with residential scale and attention to detail, the visitor center creates intimate, inspirational spaces that allow for exploration as well as quiet reflection.
fernery walls and gardens unite the spaces and create a natural flow between indoors and out. One larger educational space can be subdivided into several multi-purpose classrooms and meeting spaces; these spaces can expand via large rolling doors that open onto the gardens. Designed to address a rising interest in all-ages education at the garden, these flexible spaces accommodate a wide range of programming, including the garden’s Living Lab Program, a youth-oriented program providing science and botany-related educational opportunities.
The project is comprised of new construction, renovation and site work. The centerpiece is a new 8,500 square foot LEED® Gold certified visitor center complex which includes a covered outdoor orientation space, a gift shop, meeting space, concession area, education space, office space and restrooms. The various program areas are arranged in a series of smaller structures situated under two large, organizing roofs; together, they read as one unified L-shaped building.
The existing parking lot has been reconfigured to double the garden’s current capacity and provide safer pedestrian access to the visitor center complex. The entry sequence has been reworked to bring guests alongside the new center through an allée of trees that screens the view of the parking area. The parking lot also helps to ground the visitors’ experience of the garden beginning with the moment they enter the site.
Courtyards interspersed between the structures reinforce connections to landscape while broad roof overhangs,
In addition to the new buildings, the project includes the renovation of the Shorts residence (built in 1957), which was designed by noted Pacific Northwest
architect, Paul Kirk. The 2,300 square foot former residence of Cal and Harriet Shorts, which has served as the visitor center since the garden’s inception will now function as an auxiliary library and living room for the garden after its transformation back to a residential space. The Shorts house and grounds served as the original bequest from a private benefactor to the City of Bellevue in 1992 with the intent that it would become the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
5
Staff Entrance
4 3 1 2
Bellevue Botanical Gardens Visitor Center Site Plan 0’
50
1 2 3 4 5
Parking Orientation Toilets/ Storage Administration Education
Visitor Entrance
1 Exterior Orientation 2 Orientation 3 Gift Shop 4 Washroom 5 Storage 6 Loading Area 7 Offices 8 Reception 9 Lobby 10 Catering 11 Break Room 12 Lecture Hall
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5 9
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2
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4
4 5
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7 5
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0 5
20
40ft
East Elevation
West Elevation
North Elevation
South Elevation
0 5
Section 1
Section 2
0 5
Section 3
Section 4
20
40ft
20
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Bellevue Botanical Garden Center Visitor Center Since opening in 1992, the 53-acre Bellevue Botanical Garden has become one of the most popular public gardens in the Pacific Northwest. A growing interest in native plantings and gardening, as well as expanded programs, has drawn large crowds to the botanical gardens in recent years. The design of the new visitor center answers these needs while blurring the boundaries between architecture and the gardens. Balancing civic function with residential scale and attention to detail, the visitor center creates intimate, inspirational spaces that allow for exploration as well as quiet reflection.
fernery walls and gardens unite the spaces and create a natural flow between indoors and out. One larger educational space can be subdivided into several multi-purpose classrooms and meeting spaces; these spaces can expand via large rolling doors that open onto the gardens. Designed to address a rising interest in all-ages education at the garden, these flexible spaces accommodate a wide range of programming, including the garden’s Living Lab Program, a youth-oriented program providing science and botany-related educational opportunities.
The project is comprised of new construction, renovation and site work. The centerpiece is a new 8,500 square foot LEED® Gold certified visitor center complex which includes a covered outdoor orientation space, a gift shop, meeting space, concession area, education space, office space and restrooms. The various program areas are arranged in a series of smaller structures situated under two large, organizing roofs; together, they read as one unified L-shaped building.
The existing parking lot has been reconfigured to double the garden’s current capacity and provide safer pedestrian access to the visitor center complex. The entry sequence has been reworked to bring guests alongside the new center through an allée of trees that screens the view of the parking area. The parking lot also helps to ground the visitors’ experience of the garden beginning with the moment they enter the site.
Courtyards interspersed between the structures reinforce connections to landscape while broad roof overhangs,
In addition to the new buildings, the project includes the renovation of the Shorts residence (built in 1957), which was designed by noted Pacific Northwest
architect, Paul Kirk. The 2,300 square foot former residence of Cal and Harriet Shorts, which has served as the visitor center since the garden’s inception will now function as an auxiliary library and living room for the garden after its transformation back to a residential space. The Shorts house and grounds served as the original bequest from a private benefactor to the City of Bellevue in 1992 with the intent that it would become the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
5
Staff Entrance
4 3 1 2
Bellevue Botanical Gardens Visitor Center Site Plan 0’
50
1 2 3 4 5
Parking Orientation Toilets/ Storage Administration Education
Visitor Entrance
1 Exterior Orientation 2 Orientation 3 Gift Shop 4 Washroom 5 Storage 6 Loading Area 7 Offices 8 Reception 9 Lobby 10 Catering 11 Break Room 12 Lecture Hall
12
5
5 9
1
2
3
4
4 5
8
10
7 5
5
11
DN
6
0 5
20
40ft
East Elevation
West Elevation
North Elevation
South Elevation
0 5
Section 1
Section 2
0 5
Section 3
Section 4
20
40ft
20
40ft
