Greenroofs.com Projects - Atlanta Botanical Garden, The Hardin Visitors Center

Atlanta Botanical Garden, The Hardin Visitors Center

The Hardin Visitors Center intensive greenroof at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on 9.22.10; Photo by Joseph Velazquez

Project Name: Atlanta Botanical Garden, The Hardin Visitors Center
Year: 2009
Owner: Atlanta Botanical Garden
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Extensive & Intensive
System: Custom
Size: 4500 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Submitted by: Ernie Higgins, ItSaul Natural

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Growing Media: ItSaul Natural
Plant Supplier: Saul Nurseries
General Contractor: Hardin Construction Company, LLC
Architect: Jova/Daniels/Busby
Project Manager: Silverman Construction Program Management
Landscape Architect: EDAW

The Hardin Visitors Center extensive greenroof at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on 9.22.10; Photo by Joseph Velazquez

Close up of The Hardin Visitors Center intensive greenroof at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on 9.22.10; Photo by Joseph Velazquez

A view of both the upper extensive greenroofs and the lower intensive greenroof at The Hardin Center on 9.22.10; Photo by Joseph Velazquez

"Facing its neighbor for the first time, the Garden enjoys increased synergy with Piedmont Park. The Allen and Gail Hardin Visitor Center provides a beautiful new entry experience for visitors, just steps away from the SAGE Parking Facility. Built to the Green Building Council?s Leadership in Energy and Environmental design (LEED) specifications, this dramatic transparent structure filled with natural daylight is a lovely starting point for a visit.

"The atrium sparkles with the Nepenthes Chandelier, a work in glass by artist Dale Chihuly given in memory of Jeff Lewis. The Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Garden Theater shows videos and is also flexible meeting site. The expanded Garden Gift Shop offers an intriguing range of botanical and environmentally sustainable products, (ABG website, see below).

Atlanta Botanical Garden Green Roof Graphic; Photo by Joseph Velazquez

The Hardin Visitor Center; Photo Source: Atlanta Botanical Garden

"The 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-Gold certified design includes: insulated glass, wood certified to be from local sustainable sources, natural daylighting and a green roof overhead.

"Plantings covering nearly 50% of the Visitor Center roof area 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, (ABG website).

"Environmental sustainability was considered in every aspect of the project, from green roofs and a cistern to harvest storm water for irrigation and water features, to recycled granite curbs. Coordinating with an arborist, workers went to great lengths to prevent damage to trees, critical root zones and tree canopies," Hardin Construction Company Press Release, see below).

Additional thumbnail photos:

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE Atlanta, GA; 30309; 404.876.5859. Visit their website here and specifically the Hardin Visitor Center page here . See their Edible Garden Green Wall project profile here . Read the 5.27.10 Hardin Construction Company Press Release , and learn about ItSaul Natural in The Greenroof Directory.

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