A Public Expression of Sustainability

When visitorship to the VanDusen Botanical Garden began to decline in the early 2000’s, the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association and the Vancouver Parks Board embarked on a search for a way to revitalize interest in VanDusen as a destination. They realized that a new facility was needed – one that could attract visitors locally while elevating the garden’s profile internationally.

Our design places the new Visitor Centre at the entrance to the Garden, providing glimpses of the beautiful spaces within and transforming it into a gateway that inspires visitors and passersby to explore the grounds beyond. Guided by the Garden’s mandate and spirit of conservation, our design delicately balances architecture and landscape, integrating natural and human systems in meaningful ways to support biodiversity and ecological balance within the site. With its distinct organic roof form and extensive green building strategies, the Visitor Centre is more than a landmark in the city of Vancouver; it is an international icon of sustainability.