Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Wendel is leading the planning and design for a significant addition to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, located within a historic Frederick Law Olmsted park that features an iconic glasshouse designed by Lord & Burnham. With the demand for programs, events, and community engagement at an all-time high, the Gardens is undertaking a major expansion that will enhance its mission, modernize the visitor experience, and extend its impact for generations to come.

The new addition will introduce a café, gift shop, event spaces, and an expanded exhibit hall dedicated to pollinator education and engagement. This expansion will provide enhanced functionality to support the Gardens’ mission and ensure long-term growth.

Wendel’s planning and design efforts include a relocated Welcome Center, new Learning Labs, and The Canopy, a climate-controlled event space that overlooks a lush new Central Courtyard. The addition will also feature a café, an expanded gift shop, visitor lockers, and accessible amenities. A new Solarium will host intimate events, while a renovated Horticulture Center will better support staff, gardeners, and volunteers. Outdoors, over 90,000 square feet of gardens and landscape will be revitalized, offering year-round opportunities to connect with nature.

Sustainability is a central focus of this project. It aims for at least LEED Silver certification while implementing strategies to minimize environmental impacts. Energy reduction methods will include daylight harvesting, natural ventilation, both passive and active solar design, ground-source heat pumps, earth sheltering, and optimizing the building envelope. Water usage will be reduced through stormwater and graywater reclamation systems, as well as by installing high-efficiency low-flow fixtures. The project will also address material impact by reusing demolition materials, sourcing locally, and selecting products with low embodied carbon.

This expansion reflects the thoughtful evolution of a beloved public space. It will enhance the visitor experience, broaden programming possibilities, and continue the Botanical Gardens’ legacy as a place of learning, beauty, and environmental stewardship.