The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens shared Thursday, April 16, 2026 that their Expansion and Renovation Project is more than halfway complete. The project is on schedule, on budget, and makes impactful strides on sustainability.
Buffalo, NY- The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens announced Thursday that their Expansion and Renovation project is more than halfway complete. The new building is expected to open early in 2027. The project is on schedule, on budget, and making impactful strides on sustainability initiatives. With an outstanding sustainable design by Wendel Companies, the building is a historic addition to both the Botanical Gardens campus and to Western New York.
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens broke ground on their historic Expansion and Renovation project last year on June 20, 2025. With just under eight months remaining in the construction phase, the project is more than halfway completed. The remodel of the grow-range building has been completed and the first and second stories of the new building have been erected.
The project will include much-needed visitor amenities to meet the demand of the community, further the organization’s mission, and provide generational growth and stability. With a growing demand for student field trips and private events, strategic and sustainably designed spaces will enhance comfort and functionality for students and guests where current spaces present limitations and challenges. The new campus will create over 90,000 square feet of new outdoor gardens and landscaping for guests to enjoy a complete indoor-outdoor experience filled with new trees, shrubs and perennials.
The Botanical Gardens and Wendel Companies, the lead architecture firm, are committed to building a sustainable future. The project has been rooted in sustainability and eco-conscious design from the early concept phase to design and implementation. Focused on four key design principles, the project will achieve carbon neutrality through various efforts focused on efficiency of (1) energy, (2) water, (3) materials, and (4) equity. (1) Energy reduction methods will include use of skylights and glass window walls to reduce lighting loads, solar panels to offset 10% of the building’s total energy consumption, ground-source heat pumps, earth-sheltering design and more. (2) Water usage will be reduced through a retention pond and bioswales to manage stormwater and create natural habitats for wildlife, smart irrigation systems to reduce outdoor water use by 69%, and efficient fixtures and plumbing design to reduce indoor water use by 42%. The project also addresses (3) material impact by using a mass timber structure instead of steel, reusing demolition materials, sourcing locally, and selecting products that have a small carbon footprint and healthy finishes for a toxin-free environment. (4) For equity, the entrance relocation closer to the parking lot with a drop-off loop improves accessibility and intentional designs meet community demand for modern spaces and educational opportunities. The Expansion and Renovation project is expected to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. LEED is a globally recognized green building rating system that certifies buildings for sustainability, efficiency, and human health.
“Our first priorities were to ensure that this expansion was environmentally progressive, and the new building did not compete with the historic conservatory. By renovating an existing building and adding a modern Welcome Center we have completed our connecting campus of buildings for an enhanced visitor experience overall. The new building is spectacular in its own right; the exposed natural wood of the mass timber structure beautifully complements our core values of respecting our planet while celebrating our legacy. The views from our newly designed campus will give visitors new vantage points that truly connect us to nature and the beautiful surrounding South Park,” said Erin Grajek, President and CEO of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
“We congratulate the Botanical Gardens on surpassing the halfway point in its transformative project-a step that honors its 125-year legacy and ensures it remains a vibrant, sustainable cornerstone of Western New York for generations to come,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “By integrating green technologies like solar power and advanced stormwater management, they are not only reducing their environmental footprint but also driving significant economic growth—creating new jobs, attracting regional tourism, and providing the modern facilities needed to expand the Botanical Garden’s educational and community programming.”
“The Expansion and Renovation project here at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens demonstrates what can happen with good partners, good planning and a common vision. The work here is moving along on schedule and on budget and is transforming this campus in ways that build on the Gardens’ historical legacy while ushering in a bright new future with new gathering spaces, new gardens, and much more,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “For well over a century, the Gardens have been a welcoming and peaceful place for countless visitors to enjoy. Erie County is proud to stand with our partners in this historic place and time, preserving and improving the Botanical Gardens for generations to come.”
“I’m excited to see the expansion and renovation project at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens moving forward,” City of Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said. “This is how we build a better Buffalo: by investing in ourselves and our neighborhoods. Attractions like the Botanical Gardens, along with our parks, museums, cultural institutions, and restaurants, are part of what makes people proud to call Buffalo home.”
The Expansion and Renovation project includes 16,000 square feet of new construction, 14,000 square feet of renovated construction, and over 90,000 square feet of renovated and new outdoor gardens. Some of the features include:
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Welcome Center — a brand new entrance/admission center
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The Canopy — made up of the Palm Room and the Orchid Room, a large, naturally lit, climate-controlled event space
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Solarium and Glasshouse — reimagined greenhouses for special events
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Terrace — an outdoor patio for events
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First-Look Garden — a private, secluded garden for first-looks and special moments
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Central Courtyard — an enclosed courtyard for protected plant collections and works of art
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Outdoor gardens — over 90,000 square feet of renovated and new outdoor gardens
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Additional guest parking lot — a North and South Parking Lot for daily visitors and event guests
- Sustainability initiatives — solar panels, stormwater management and energy efficient designs
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Accessibility initiatives — a relocated entrance with a drop-off circle, all-gender and family-focused restrooms, a wellness room, visitor lockers, and many more guest-friendly amenities.
The community is encouraged to continue visiting the Botanical Gardens to see the changes happening in real time. The conservatory will remain open throughout the remainder of the construction. The community is also encouraged to follow the Botanical Gardens and the new event space, The Canopy, on social media for regular updates and to book their events for 2027 and beyond. Follow @buffalobotanicalgardens and @thecanopybuffalo on Instagram.
The Expansion and Renovation project is supported by Empire State Development, Erie County, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York State Assemblyman Pat Burke, Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, KeyBank, M&T Bank, Ann Swan, donors, and friends.
The Botanical Gardens is proud to work closely on this project with their visionary partners Erie County, Wendel Companies; Architect and Engineer of Record, and Turner Construction; Construction Manager. They are also thankful for their construction partners; Campus Construction Management Group, Rodriguez Construction Group, Miller Construction Services, Inc., John W. Danforth Company, Huber Construction, Inc, CIR Electrical Construction Co., M.K.S. Plumbing Corporation, and TGR Enterprises, Inc.
About Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
