J.E. and L.E. Mabee Grange opens
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and Mr. Ray Tullius, vice-chairman of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation were special guests as Tulsa Botanic Garden celebrated the opening of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Grange with a ribbon cutting on Friday, December 8.
The 4,500 square foot building is part of the Botanic Garden’s capital campaign, “Reaching for Generations”. The Garden successfully met a fundraising challenge for a grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation for construction of the building.
“The Mabee Grange will allow us to expand our educational offerings for school programs, garden workshops, camps, lectures and our casual visitors, “ says Garden President and CEO Todd Lasseigne, “we are excited to reach this significant milestone and thank the Mabee Foundation and the community for their continued support to develop the Botanic Garden for our city and region.”
Designed by Studio 45 Architects of Tulsa and 3.Fromme Design (Sanford, FL), the building will serve multiple purposes for the Garden, with a large meeting room that can be divided for smaller functions. A panel of folding doors allows the space to be opened to an adjoining patio and lawn. The building exterior features cedar planks set in metal and decorative gabion, or wire cage, walls filled with layers of rock including: blue sandstone, river rock and lava rock. Interior features include alder wood plank gable walls with LED color-change lighting, a ceiling of spruce wood slats and a catering kitchen. Hunter Companies in Tulsa was general contractor.
“With the completion of this building, we are able to co-host a symposium for professionals in public gardens next October which will bring our colleagues from across the country to Tulsa,” announced Lasseigne, “it is already increasing our capacity to attract and serve our visitors.”
In addition to being used for Garden programs, the building will be available for private events including parties and receptions.
The Mabee Grange is the third major component of the Garden’s capital campaign to open. The comprehensive campaign, with a goal of $17.1 million, is funding construction of four gardens and the building, as well as infrastructure and an endowment fund. Two of the four gardens have been completed: The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces, which opened October 2015, and the two-acre Children’s Discovery Garden, which opened in May 2016. The remaining two gardens: the Lotus Pool and adjacent All Seasons Garden are in planning stages as fund raising continues.
ABOUT TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN:
Tulsa Botanic Garden is an all-season oasis blooming in the Osage Hills northwest of Tulsa. The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces feature over 8,000 plants with seasonal beds, beautiful art deco designs and water features, and a spectacular spring display of over 100,000 bulbs. The Children’s Discovery Garden, opened in May 2016, is a wonderland of interactive fun for the whole family including the iconic Spring Giant, spitting animal fountains, carnivorous plants, Sensory Walk, whirligigs, and the Tree Fort where the canopy provides a natural backdrop for storytelling and imaginative play. The Lakeside Promenade gracefully encompasses a seven-acre lake, and the Cross Timbers Trail provides a 1.5 mile hike through the native forest and prairie. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with additional special hours and events. Admission: Free for Garden members; $8 for ages 13 and up, $4 for ages 3-12, and free for ages 2 and under. Memberships are available beginning at $50. Tulsa Botanic Garden, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, call 918-289-0330 or visit www.tulsabotanic.org.
