Adkins Arboretum

Located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Adkins Arboretum was founded in 1980 by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as part of the state park system. In 1998 the former Friends of Adkins Arboretum, a nonprofit organization, was granted a 50-year lease to operate the Arboretum. Its 400 acres of native gardens and natural areas include one of the region’s most significant forested wetlands, as well as rich upland forest and open meadows. With a “living collection” of more than 600 species of native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses, the Arboretum is the only public garden in the Mid-Atlantic region devoted to education, research, and conservation of coastal plain flora. Open to the public year round, it is a compelling place for all ages to explore the grounds and attend educational programs and seasonal events.

In order to broaden its educational offerings and research initiatives to accommodate a growing visitorship, the Arboretum announced a $5 million Capital Campaign, “The Campaign to Build a Green Legacy.” This project will build a new “green” Arboretum Center, create an ecologically sensitive entry and parking area, and provide endowment funds that will help sustain the expansion and support new programs.

The project is currently in the design process and since 2005 Earthly Ideas has served as the sustainability and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consultant and provided extensive materials and methods research, drawing and specification review and editing, and design assistance to the team including coordination of LEED certification process. Using the latest technology for energy efficient buildings, the Arboretum is committed to achieving LEED-NC Gold certification. Once completed this new building will be the only LEED-certified building on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.