Wildflower Center to develop growth plan
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The Wildflower Centers' facilities and gardens likely will be updated under the new growth plan, officials say. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is working with local architects to update its facilities and gardens.
Why it matters: Since its founding more than four decades ago, the beloved botanic garden and arboretum has become a top attraction for tourists and locals alike.
Driving the news: Wildflower Center officials announced last week that they'll work with Austin- and San Antonio-based architects Lake Flato and Dallas-based landscape architects Studio Outside to expand welcome facilities, gardens, education spaces, food service and more.
- The development phase will conclude in June 2025, a spokesperson for the center told Axios. Construction won't begin for several years.
- Lake Flato is well known for recent developments around Austin, including the Central Library and the Music Lane project on South Congress.
Zoom in: Center officials say the comprehensive plan will support growing visitor demand and "surging interest in native plants and natural landscapes."
- The project will likely include extensive and wide-ranging additions and alterations to existing structures and landscapes, per a news release from the center.
- Studio Outside will design the center's outdoor spaces to meet future needs, including accessible trails and gardens and outdoor education experiences for guests.
- "We're incredibly thrilled to embark on the next chapter in the center's remarkable journey with this exceptional team and to further our goals to conserve native plants and promote their use in our everyday landscapes," said Lee Clippard, executive director of the center.
Follow the money: The Wildflower Center will launch a fundraising effort to pay for the project, although it's not yet clear how much money it will need to raise, according to Scott Simons, a spokesperson for the center.
- "A project like this is only going to be possible through generous donations of all sizes," Simons told Axios, adding that it will seek funding through private donations, foundations and corporate sponsors. "As the state botanic garden and arboretum, we're also interested in pursuing state and federal funding if that is a viable option."
Flashback: It's not the first time the center has grappled with Austin's growth.
- The garden was originally called the National Wildflower Research Center, but public demand to see the East Austin location led to the relocation to its current site in 1995. It was renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in 1997.
- By 2002, the center — originally 42 acres at its current site — had acquired roughly 240 acres of adjacent land through purchase and donation in response to encroaching land development.
- In 2006, the Wildflower Center became part of the University of Texas.
By the numbers: The center has seen a jump in visitors over the years. Roughly 45,000 visitors headed to the Wildflower Center in 1995, compared to 250,000 guests last year, according to center officials.