Penn State has selected MTR Landscape Architects of Pittsburgh to design the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens, the next step in making the university's planned arboretum a reality. MTR has worked on many other public gardens across the country, including the Missouri and Chicago Botanic Gardens, the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Massachusetts, and the Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City.
The H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens are part of a 56-acre parcel that will be the "front door" to the 400-acre arboretum. The botanic gardens are named for the father of a university alumnus who has pledged $10 million for the arboretum, and which will allow the first phase of construction to begin in January. This first phase of the arboretum is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2009.
Landscape architect Melissa Marshall of MTR told the Penn State news service that the new arboretum is geared toward learning. "Our goal is to establish the major pillars of the arboretum so that it becomes a campus amenity serving both students and the larger community," she said. The HO Smith Gardens will include an overlook pavilion, a conservatory terrace, a large lawn for events, and a rose and fragrance garden.
Future plans for the site include a visitors' center, a children's education center and research facilities.
Arboretum Director Kim Steiner said construction plans beyond the initial phase will depend upon additional gifts. The Arboretum is being funded almost entirely by private gifts.
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