McCrory Gardens Visitor Center
Brookings, SD
McCrory Gardens, the jewel of South Dakota State University, asked Perspective to design a one-of-a-kind education and visitor center. This privately funded facility serves vital educational and functional roles for SDSU students and faculty, the community, and visitors to the area.
The organic, open, and welcoming design meets the growing needs of McCrory Gardens for a formal visitor destination while providing event spaces, acting as an interpretive and education center, and adding full-season access to the gardens. The visitor center includes a flexible 200 +/- seat conference room, classrooms, administrative offices, retail, pre-function spaces, and outdoor event plazas
The visitor center achieved LEED Silver certification and is the first SDSU project to incorporate geothermal design. Additional sustainable design features include LED lighting, radiant in-floor heat, energy recovery ventilators, use of native materials, and extensive connections with the outdoors.