INFLUENCERS
// the game changer
A Place to Grow THE DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS merged the art and science of plants into one learning hub By Heather Shoning
PHOTOS: SCOTT DRESSEL-MARTIN, COURTESY OF DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
ALTHOUGH the Freyer-Newman Center opened with fits and starts thanks to the pandemic, this $40 million manifestation of dedication to the fusion of art and science is a game changer for Denver Botanic Gardens, says CEO Brian Vogt. “It’s been a giant leap for us because of the three areas we focus on— science, art, education. Very few institutions like ours have the capacity to grow like we are.” The space is unique because it brings under one roof horticulture, plant conservation and preservation, mycology and art in a way that it highlights human relationships with these elements. And it’s done in a way designed specifically to make it more accessible to the public. Take, for example, the Copper Door Coffee Roasters. It’s a coffee shop in the building that’s purpose is to entice people to linger. “It’s a gathering place,” says Vogt. “There are pop-up exhibits and classes. It’s where the community comes together to share information and interpretations—all in this space.” In addition, the 100,000-square-foot center features the Helen Fowler Library, the Sturm Family Auditorium, three climate-controlled art galleries, an herbaria, six classrooms, science labs and the School of Botanical Art & Illustration. 58
january 2022 // AvidLifestyle
Denver Botanic Gardens is setting a new precedent with its library. “It’s exciting because we’re going against trends in the cultural world,” Vogt says. “Many gardens have given up on libraries, but we tripled the size of ours.” Much of the work is happening in the science labs that allow for expanded ecology, genetic and tissue culture work. “Hardcore research has been lifted up dramatically,” says Vogt, who adds that there is much research happening around endangered and threatened species in Colorado. One of the more significant areas of study is tracking bloom time of plants, which is extremely important in the face of climate change. “We’re looking at alpine plants over, say, a 25-year period,” Vogt says. “We can see if there is a change in bloom time—and there has been a change. There are plants that could be endangered because pollinators might not be pollinating when bloom time changes.” This information can have a significant impact
