Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a jewel of Sarasota’s cultural and environmental landscape, is poised for another transformative leap forward. With Phase One of its ambitious three-phase master plan successfully completed, Selby Gardens is now gearing up for Phase Two, a significant expansion that will further elevate its status as a world-class botanical and research institution.
A Historic Milestone in Fundraising
Selby Gardens has reached a remarkable milestone, securing 82% of the required funds for Phase Two of its master plan. With over $114 million raised for the entire project—including nearly $50 million for this next phase—this achievement is a testament to the generosity and vision of the Sarasota community. Private philanthropy has been the driving force behind this campaign, with major contributions ensuring that groundbreaking will commence by the end of 2025, with completion expected by late 2027.
Expanding Beauty, Research, and Resilience
Phase Two of the master plan will introduce a stunning Conservatory Complex, a Learning Pavilion, and expanded garden landscapes. Designed to be hurricane-resilient, the new Conservatory will showcase over 20,000 plants from Selby Gardens’ living research collections, including one of the world’s most scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads. This expansion will provide increased accessibility and a more immersive botanical experience for visitors and researchers alike.
The Learning Pavilion will serve as a state-of-the-art educational space, offering enhanced opportunities for school programs and lifelong learners. Additionally, landscape enhancements will include a Tara stone garden, a live oak grove, and improved walkways, further enriching the visitor experience within the heart of Downtown Sarasota.
Building on the Success of Phase One
January 2024 marked the completion of Phase One, which introduced groundbreaking sustainability features, including a 50,000-square-foot solar array, making Selby Gardens the first net-positive energy botanical garden complex in the world. The Morganroth Family Living Energy Access Facility (LEAF) now houses parking, a farm-to-table restaurant named Green Orchid, vertical gardens, and a gift shop. The Steinwachs Family Plant Research Center, another key addition, secures Selby Gardens’ scientific resources in a hurricane-resilient structure while providing the public with a window into groundbreaking botanical research.
These developments have already earned national recognition, with Selby Gardens being named one of TIME magazine’s 100 “World’s Greatest Places” and featured in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best of Architecture of 2024.” The master plan’s lead landscape architecture firm, OLIN, is also set to receive the prestigious Philip Hanson Hiss Award from Architecture Sarasota, further cementing the project’s design excellence and environmental stewardship.
A Bold Vision for the Future
Attracting over 300,000 visitors annually, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is not only preserving its legacy but also redefining the future of sustainable urban botanical spaces. With a commitment to 100% renewable energy, water harvesting, and resilient infrastructure, this expansion ensures that future generations will continue to benefit from its unparalleled research collections and breathtaking landscapes.
As Sarasota continues to thrive as a cultural and ecological destination, Selby Gardens’ master plan serves as a beacon of innovation, conservation, and education. With Phase Two set to break ground in late 2025, the excitement surrounding this next chapter is palpable. For residents, visitors, and real estate investors alike, the continued evolution of Selby Gardens further solidifies Sarasota as a premier location for living, learning, and exploring nature at its finest.
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