Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center

Situated within the city limits of Orange, Texas, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center (Shangri La) is a 250-acre reserve bequeathed by Nelda C. Stark to the Stark Foundation. H. J. Lutcher Stark began work on Shangri La in 1942 and the gardens first opened to the public in 1946. In the mid 1950’s, the gardens were heavily damaged by a hard freeze. The area was closed to the public and maintained on a very limited scale.

Adjacent to the original Stark gardens is a natural area containing more than 225 of the original 250 acres. It is a valuable ecosystem possessing wetlands, mixed deciduous forest, cypress tupelo swamp, and Ruby Lake that attracts ducks and migratory birds and comprises the “Nature Center” portion of Shangri La. A recent survey of the birds in Shangri La, found more than 100 species, including an active heronry containing 6000 nesting birds.

In 2002 architects and environmental engineers began the process to restore the botanical gardens and create a nature center for study and research at K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. The restored and expanded facility is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in late summer 2007. The main core of the new facility’s buildings is the Visitor Center; however, additional buildings are located at various ecotones (transitional zones between two communities containing the characteristic species of each) in the Nature Center in order to enhance the visitor educational experience and are accessible to visitors by foot or boat.

From 2004 – present, Earthly Ideas has served as the sustainability and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consultant and provided project management of LEED certification process. In addition, we have provided materials and methods research, drawing and specification review and editing, and design assistance to the extensive design and construction team. This project completed its design application review with the USGBC in October 2006 and is on track to receive its goal of LEED-NC v2.1 Platinum – one of the first in Texas.