The large building at the top of the site plan is the new conservation centre, and just to the left of it is the old one. Rather than destroy the old building, which was in good condition, we decided to remove its walls and transform it in into a picnic shelter, already perfectly placed near the new building. Above the new building the outdoor theatre is visible, stepping down to the stage. We hoped to create an outdoor room by lining the theatre with trees on each side. At the bottom of the drawing is the entrance to the arboretum and the larger building there is called the Pine Office. It is the current home of the Morgan Arboretum's office and also serves as a gatehouse. That building was to remain, but we decided to add a proper gatehouse (the smaller building to the right), separate from the Pine Office. Parking is a problem that had to be resolved for the arboretum, and in the debate over whether or not to continue allowing cars to park on the site, we decided to stick with the status quo, but improve upon it. Cars could drive up to the new building to drop off people or skis and other equipment, and then would park in a linear parking lot which paralleled the road. The parking lot would have landscaped berms on either side, as a way of limiting views of the vehicles parked there. The addition of the berms would worsen an already existing drainage problem in the open field, but we would take advantage of that by digging out a section of the field, creating a wetland.
Site Plan, Morgan Arboretum Conservation Centre.
