Education Center from East Terrace

Education is a significant part of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ mission, and environmental sustainability is one of the organization’s goals. Our next major project is building a faciility that meets the needs for education space and serves as a model of green design. 

The Education Center will be a net-zero-energy building and is expected to receive platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the highest-possible LEED rating. It will be the only public building in the state that creates more energy than it consumes, earning it the net-zero-energy status. It will accomplish this level of sustainability through the effective use of solar energy and other technologies.   

Education Center - South Elevation

The design for the 8,000+- square-foot Education Center, which will be located near the Visitor Center, is the product of a team collaboration between Scott Simons Architects of Portland and Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, Vermont, with input from committees of the Gardens’ board members and staff. 

The building’s Education and Cultural Hall will provide flexible space for classes, workshops, meetings, artists-in-residence, and cultural events for 175+ people. Attractive gallery spaces will enable the Gardens to expand its stellar roster of art exhibits. 

The two-story west wing of the Education Center will house offices for the Gardens’ education, administrative, development, and financial staff, as well as much needed meeting spaces. School, youth and adult programs will flourish with the addition of the new building.   

One of the many positive aspects of building the new Education Center is its impact on the local and state economy. It will create jobs directly and indirectly. With a full-time staff of 13, which swells to 45 during the season, the Gardens employs midcoast residents in a broad array of capacities. Those numbers will increase once the new Education Center is complete and additional educational and cultural programs are offered. 

Another advantage to the community and state will be the opportunity for residents and those in the building trades to see firsthand how green technology can be put to practical use in a structure that is not only efficient, but also beautiful and functional.