Brooklyn Botanic Garden's new visitor center

Have any other Brooklyn Botanic Garden fans been following the creation of the new Visitor Center, which'll replace and supplement the guard-post-like entry gate by the Brooklyn Museum parking lot?

http://nextcentury.bbg.org/priorities/visitor_center/

http://www.weissmanfredi.com/projects/brooklyn_botanic.php

I'm worried it's going to loom over the Japanese Garden, visually and aurally. But the renderings at the links above show only what it'll look like from the high ginkgo-tree walk and from the Cherry Esplanade, which is expectedly noisy, in season, with conversation and running children. The Japanese Garden has always been a more quiet, contemplative space. Will that change? Will the new cafe have outdoor seating along the walkway that'll overlook the garden?

Not to worry. You'll barely be able to see the green roof of the new visitors' center from inside the Japanese Garden. The visitors' center is being built into the berm, so it won't encroach on the walk from the entrance to the Cherry Esplanade. It will not house a regular cafe; that will be located where the current garden shop is. There will be a space for special events, a la the Palm House, only smaller.

soon to open.

http://www.bbg.org/press/visitorcenter

Post opening press:

http://brooklynbased.net/blog/2012/06/architecture-and-ecology-intertwine-at-new-bbg-visitor-center/

In the new gift shop there are "Metal Tree Sculptures" that are actually store fixtures and not for sale....

anyone know where these can be purchased?

:?:

I like it!

inpixels, just ask an employee. I had a question about a product I purchased there over a year ago that they no longer had and a clerk gave me a number to call (don't have it anymore or I'd give it to you) and the lady (I think she was the buyer for the shop) was really helpful. They may be able to point you to where it came from.

"just ask an employee"

I did -- they took my name down etc.

Really nice people that work there.

Unfortunately, I haven't heard back.

roux42 said:

I like it!

designers like it as well:

http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/botanic-garden-wins-major-design-prize

July 2013:

It will soon serve alcohol

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/botanic-garden-break-bubbly-article-1.1399447