Sited within the University's botanical garden, the Welcome Center and site improvements advance Cornell Plantations leadership role in environmental stewardship education and identity as a ‘green garden'. The orientation and educational center, bio-swale and new gardens, provide integrated visitor and educational experiences. Sited and embedded into a hillside, the Welcome Centre is organized on two levels, with the lower garden level devoted to visitor service functions, and the upper level organized to enable regular classroom functions. Targeted to achieve the highest LEED standards, the project's sustainability strategy is conceived as an integral part of the overall botanical garden experience.