Nevin Welcome Center – Cornell Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens Welcome Center has won a host of awards including: The Society of College and University Planning Award 2013, AIA NYS Award of Excellence 2011, AIA Tri-State Honor Award 2011, OAA Award of Excellence 2011, and the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence 2011.

Cornell is a leader in environmental stewardship and education, and as such the Welcome Center is extremely adaptable, using structural soils and solar panels to improve plant life in the rooftop garden and reduce energy consumption to 49% below the ASHRAE 90.1 metrics. Both levels of the building are designed to respond topographically to the glacial knoll it occupies and provide a unified connection to the outdoors. Botanical gardens and rain garden help manage stormwater and welcome all visitors to the grounds—a perfect union of calming communal space with the dazzling natural world.

Purpose

• Multi-use visitor services and educational center

Slender Features

• Wood fin louver system

Novel Features

• Thermomass cast-in-place sandwich walls for elevator core
• Floor framing hung from clear-span roof framing to avoid interior columns

Progressive Features

• LEED Gold certified

Notable Value

• Commitment to the architectural priorities driving slender and finely detailed exposed structure

Awards

• 2013 Society of College and University Planning Honor Award
• 2011 AIA New York State Award of Excellence
• 2011 AIA Tri-State Honor Award
• OAA Award of Excellence (including best-in-show award), 2011
• Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, 2010

LINKS:
Baird Sampson Neuert Architects

SHOUT OUTS:
Jon Neuert (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Yves Bonnardeaux (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Harvey Wu (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Andrea Macecek (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Teddy Benedicto (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Winda Lau (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Cyril Charron (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Hugh Clark (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
Jessy Dormody (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects)
David Bowick (Blackwell) – Engineer of Record
Craig Nicoletti (Blackwell) – Construction Administration
Chris Cucco (Blackwell) – Preliminary Studies

IMAGE CREDITS:
Tom Arban