No one actually tossed dirt onto the historic Augusta Brick pavers, but large groups of donors, trustees, and other dignitaries ceremonially scooped and held sand above two long troughs to mark the start of construction of the second phase of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens master plan.
The groundbreaking on Tuesday, Dec. 2, is the start of the three-phase project to transform the downtown campus into a fully interactive, resilient and energy efficient sanctuary containing more than 20,000 plants from Selby Gardens’ living research collections including the best scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads in the world, according to Selby Gardens.
As Phase 1 opened in January 2024, planning was already well underway for Phase 2, which will include a new conservatory complex, learning pavilion and key landscape features.
The project won Planning Board approval in August.
“The complex will be an international model of innovation in resilience and sustainability powered by 100% renewable energy, the very first of its kind in the world; a new learning pavilion; and inspiring indoor-outdoor space for dynamic educational programs,” Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki told the crowd of more than 100.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of the master plan for the downtown campus.
Photo by Andrew Warfield
The event also marked a new milestone in fundraising as Phase 2 capital campaign chairs Gail Morganroth and Audrey Robbins announced they raised $56.3 million of the $60.9 million goal, or 92% of the cost. Combined, they raised $121 million to fund both phases, with 99% of the total from private philanthropy.
The plan is for Phase 2 to open in 2028.
“In 1974, Selby Gardens’ very first newsletter stated that the co-founders ‘believe the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will become one of the finest gardens for its size in all the world today,’” Rominiecki said. “You can see that they were right.”
As the centerpiece of Phase 2, the Conservatory Complex will broaden public access to Selby Gardens’ collection from about 5% today to nearly its entirety. The Learning Pavilion will feature enhanced facilities for all of Selby Gardens’ education programs, as well as enhanced gardens and landscape features.
“Selby is the place of inspiration,” said project lead architect Jerry Sparkman of Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors. “We are inspired to make the world’s first hurricane-resilient conservatory. It’s a big task just to harness the sun’s energy, to collect the rainfall to irrigate the plants, to elevate the building above and beyond, and ultimately to make our community assets less vulnerable. That is the goal, and to celebrate the beauty of this natural place.”
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