Nature Education Center
The Carriage House renovation and addition establishes the Nature Education Center and provides a long-term home for the offices and programming of Cylburn Arboretum Friends. Designed to be innovative, visually stimulating, beautiful, and functional, the NEC affords visitors opportunities to learn more about the natural environment, both wild and cultivated.
Interpretive experiences encourage visitors to use all their senses to better observe the arboretum, to uncover what is hidden, and to understand how we are responsible for protecting the natural world we live in.
Client
Cylburn Arboretum Friends
Location
Baltimore, MD
Size
4,500 sf Addition
3,300 sf Renovation
Completed
2023
The historic, two-story, masonry Carriage House was originally built in the 1870’s, and rebuilt around 1912 after a fire.
Stabilization and restoration of the historic structure include removing non-historic dependencies, interior stair, and fire escape; returning the porch to the original design; inserting new windows and overhead door; and restoring the exterior and interior historic features while respectfully integrating modern systems and support spaces.
“
We have had the most inspiring experience working with your team and watching you extract from us what we knew and more
importantly, what we didn’t realize we would need.
Patricia Foster, Executive Director - Cylburn Arboretum
Design Team
Douglas Bothner
Ann Powell
Jeremy Chinnis
Ty Skeiky
Cyrus Lee
Consultants
MEP Engineer – Engenium Group
Structural Engineer – 1200 Architectural Engineers
Civil Engineer – CityScape Engineering
Experience & Exhibit Designer – Metcalfe Architecture & Design
Landscape Architect – Intreegue Landscape Architecture
Photography
Tom Holdsworth
Awards
2023 Grand Design – AIA Baltimore
2023 Excellence in Design Detail – AIA Baltimore
2023 Design – AIA Maryland
Publications
Grand Design Award, AIA Baltimore, 2023
Detail Award, AIA Baltimore, 2023
Excellence in Design Award, AIA Maryland, 2023