Construction on the home of the Garden Club of Georgia began in January, 1997. Situated on the highest elevation at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the impressive structure was completed in summer, 1998. Dedication of the facility took place October 6, 1998.
The elegant brick building encompasses 9,705 square feet and overlooks the International Garden and the Heritage Garden of the State Botanical Garden, in Athens, Georgia. The award-winning architectural firm, Smith Dalia of Atlanta, designed the plans and had oversight of the project. Smith Dalia Architects also designed the nearby Day Chapel at the State Botanical Garden. The Garden Club Headquarters building is of a neoclassical architectural style, best described as Jeffersonian. Tours of the Headquarters House are available by appointment. There is a $5 per person donation.
The building consists of two levels. The upper level features an imposing entry hall, a Formal Reception Room, a Dining Room, a Board Room for meetings, an Archives Room which houses our proud history, a 200+ title Reference Library, and Garden Club Administrative Offices. These rooms are beautifully enhanced with many exceptional architectural details including extensive custom millwork. Historical and Decorative Arts students at the University of Georgia find the exquisite historical furnishings and appointments an opportunity for study. Fine period furniture, moved from the former Headquarters building, and many new accquistions fill the upper level. The interior designer, Virginia White, ASID, of Atlanta, Georgia, worked closely with the architects to create the elegant environs.
Environmentally, Smith Dalia Architects specified low-e glazing windows, passive natural ventilation, natural daylighting, and exterior building wrap to eliminate air filtration. Oriented to face east, the building showcases an imposing staircase on the interior north side of the building. The impressive Board Room on the upper level offers spectacular views into the surrounding hardwood treetops.
The landscape architectural firm was Robinson Fisher Associates of Athens, Georgia. Robinson Fisher Associates previously designed the lovely Day Chapel landscape, which is close by and on the grounds of the State Botanical Garden. The Headquarters House landscape includes a circular drive for passenger drop-off at the formal front entry. The front landscaped area features a broad brick walkway leading from the drop-off to the front portico. Flanking the walkway are panels of lawn, framed with brick edging, perennial flowers, flowering shrubs including Fothergilla, Summersweet Clethra, and Loropetalum, and trees including 'Little Gem' Magnolia, 'October Glory' Red Maple, Persian Ironwood, and Fringetree. On the lower level a large, brick-paved terrace overlooks a small forest. Weather permitting, this lovely terrace can accomodate overflow of guests from the Terrace Room. Adjoining the rear terrace is a lovely garden honoring Deen Day Sanders. Deen is a former GCG President and former NGC National President.
The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. proudly builds on the history and the legacy of the past. For it was here, in Athens, Georgia, that the first garden club in America was organized in 1891. Having built our home on the red clay and solid granite rock of the Georgia Piedmont, we go forth to inspire beautification, conservation, and education. Our dazzling Headquarters House is one step on the path towards our future.
The lower level features a multi-purpose Terrace Room that can seat 140 for dinner. Included in this area is a catering kitchen. The Terrace Room is available for rental and is an ideal location for wedding receptions, conferences, and formal dinners. The room offers an electronic projection screen and room-darkening capabilities for the purpose of media viewing. An elevator and a staircase connect the upper and lower floors of the building. The lower level may also be accessed via the lower drive, providing direct handicapped access, permitting caterers' immediate access to the catering kitchen, and allowing vehicle drop-off of passengers or blue ribbon flower show designs! Current information on Terrace Room rental is available at the Botanical Garden Web site. You can also download this PDF for rates and floor plan. For additional information contact the State Botanical Garden Facilities Rental Office at 706-542-6467
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Spring Tips Before planting large seeds, put them in a bowl of water. Seeds in good condition will sink; damaged ones will float.
A wonderful way to thin plants is to transplant them to another area of your garden or to share them with a friend for her garden. Remember, however, these young plants need TLC when moved. Lift them by the leaves, not the stem, for "a broken stem is a dead plant." |
