Solar Panel Placeholder

Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainably designed and built for future growth, the Gateway to the Garden project features best practices in construction, design, and operation to achieve optimal use with minimal environmental impact.

  • Concrete cement, rock, and sand used in construction are sourced from local quarries, eliminating the emissions associated with transporting goods across long distances. The limestone and granite cladding on the exterior of the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center is sourced from a quarry in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.  
  • Rooftop solar panels will produce an average of 300-megawatt hours per year, resulting in a reduction of carbon emissions roughly equivalent to the annual output required to power 33.3 homes annually.
  • 50,000-gallon stormwater collection system built into the Garden landscape will reduce water consumption for the care of the thousands of plants in the displays that surround the Taylor Visitor Center.  
  • Additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will increase capacity for gas-free automobiles, including accommodations for accessible parking with an EV.
  • Enhanced digital displays and electronic ticketing will reduce reliance on printed visitor materials.
  • Low-flow water fixtures will reduce demand for potable water.  
  • Automated mechanical systems will provide high staff and visitor comfort while reducing annual energy expenses by 23% from standard technologies.