Cat HillsJuice Reporter

Rain, snow, or shine- one of the greatest places in Brookings to enjoy the outdoors is the McCrory Gardens. Recently, construction began on an education and visitor center, which will give a more educational experience to new visitors of the center.

The education and visitor center is a 4.2 million dollar project covering over nine-thousand square feet.

The center, which is expected to be ready by November 2011, will offer numerous amenities including a traditional help desk and a coffee shop, two meeting rooms that seat 30 people each, and a great hall that seats 250-300 people.

The meeting rooms and great hall provide excellent gathering spots for a wide array of groups, classes, and large events.

The aesthetic appeal at the center provides a welcoming vibe to visitors. One of the centers many features is an exposed glass wall, looking out to the space behind the building which is a breath-taking view of the perennial garden and surrounding landscape.

Not all the construction is inside the visitor center. Two event lawns and a fountain will create a grand connection between the new and existing elements at McCrory.

In today’s eco-friendly environment, the visitor and education center finds itself right on pace.

The facility is a “green” building, meaning that it is built with recycled materials.

It’s one of the few buildings in the state with the “Silver” Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The LEED certificate evaluates building specifications like energy savings, water efficiency, and carbon dioxide emissions.

The center also offers special perks to its “green” guests. If you drive a hybrid car you can expect a priority parking spot.

Track construction all semester long, and visit the scenic McCrory Gardens for yourself.

#1.1898195:222573678.png:McCroryGardens-Tonkin.png:The Brookings community can expect to see a visitory center at McCrory Gardens, expected to be finished by November 2011. The building will be one of the few certified green buildings in the state. :Collegian Photo by Joshua Tonkin