Hoerr Schaudt Kicks Off Master Plan Expansion with Atlanta Botanical Garden

"We are beyond excited to be working with ABG on the master plan for this new site. This project perfectly couples Hoerr Schaudt's experience working on high-end public gardens with our passion for horticulture," notes Rob Gray, Design Principal at Hoerr Schaudt, who is leading the project's efforts. "This is a pivotal development for ABG, the city of Atlanta, the BeltLine, visitors, and the community – and it's a privilege to be part of the landscape architecture team moving this design forward to benefit the city's future."

The new garden envisions creating dramatic and unique water expressions and horticultural experiences as a series of grand garden rooms that are terraced into the landscape. These iconic spaces aim to embrace the substantial topography on site and will create innovative water experiences that celebrate the botanical garden character. Included in this is a grand sloping water labyrinth and amphitheater embedded in a sunken garden, a walled display garden encompassed by a braided water channel, and an expansive lower terraced water garden with integrated bridges, cenotes, and planted islands. The intersections between these three primary garden rooms also create some of the most unique and iconic experiences in the garden, including a 14-foot ring waterfall, cavern, and series of terraced waterfalls.

These spaces are framed by woodland edges, inscribed by smaller water garden rooms, including a mirrored water table, a grotto, and a whimsical woodland garden with laminar jumping water jets and topiary planting. The garden is bounded by a proposed jewel-box Orangerie (uphill) and a visitor's center, restaurant, and beer garden along the Atlanta BeltLine edge. The botanical garden will also be activated along the BeltLine with public amenities, including display gardens, a bike and pedestrian hub, and an entry plaza for programming and events.

The new garden will be constructed on a newly acquired parcel of land along Piedmont Avenue and the Atlanta BeltLine. Once completed, the botanical garden will connect to the BeltLine and adjacent neighborhoods, making it the first cultural institution to be directly accessible from the popular 22-mile loop. "The Atlanta Botanical Garden is redefining the role that public gardens play in our cities and is celebrating the Atlanta community in every aspect of this expansion," said Matthew Macchietto, Associate Principal and Design Lead for ABG at Hoerr Schaudt. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2026.

The New Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden is being led by Hoerr Schaudt, in collaboration with a team comprised of architects, engineers, and consultants, including:

Fluidity – Water Feature Design
Smith Dalia – Architect
L’Observatoire – Lighting Design
Neelu – Structural Engineering
Long Engineering – Civil Engineering
Landscapes of the South – Irrigation
Pine & Swallow – Soils