Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

The Frederik Meijer Gardens has served the Grand Rapids community since 1995 with its lush landscape, educational programs and renowned collection of outdoor sculpture. Over the years, The Gardens have expanded from 70 to 158 acres, with a diffusion of spaces across the grounds.

FMS was part of the design team responsible for the creation of a new entry and Welcome Center that could adapt and sustain the institution over time. The team was challenged to provide a unified whole, and a strong quiet backdrop for the art and horticulture; knitting together several structures to create one cohesive campus, improving circulation, access, programming flexibility and overall visitor experience.

The Garden Pavilion, a new gathering space inside the Welcome Center, enfolds visitors within a monumental installation by Jaume Plensa, who the designers worked closely with to create the conditions for an experience of art and architecture as one.