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A renovation at The United States Botanic Garden Conservatory completely modernized the historic building and returned it to its original grandeur. Clark Construction Group, LLC served as general contractor, broadening its portfolio of historic renovation projects, which includes such Washington, D.C. landmarks as the Warner Theatre, Willard Hotel, Omni Shoreham Hotel and John A. Wilson Building.
Located at First Street and Independence Avenue, the conservatory opened in 1933 but the garden dates back to the 1840’s, making it the oldest botanic garden in the nation. Under the direction of The Architect of the Capitol, it is hailed as a national treasure with links to the horticultural interests of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The conservatory was closed to the public in September 1997.
Daniel Mann Johnson & Mendenhall (DMJM) of Arlington, Va., served as the associate architect, MEP and structural engineer for the 51,000-gross-square-foot project. Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects of Wilmington, Del. served as the associate architect for the exhibit portion of the project.
While the building’s exterior looks the same, the extensive interior renovations include structural reinforcement, greater accessibility for the disabled and state-of-the-art climate control and fogging systems. The landmark Palm House, dismantled in 1992, was reconstructed in its original Deco style and fashioned as a jungle with an elevated walk bringing visitors up to the plant canopy. Reconfigured exhibits provide clearer demonstrations of the role of plants in science, agriculture and nature.
Pre-opening tours will be available to the public beginning September 4th while a formal public dedication ceremony will take place in December.
Clark Construction Group, LLC is headquartered in Bethesda, Md.
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