Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has begun vertical construction on the second phase of its major downtown Sarasota expansion as the popular attraction nears its fundraising goal for the $60.9 million project.
The garden announced three milestones in early August: a $41.9 million bond sale, the start of vertical construction and reaching 98% of its Phase Two fundraising goal.
Phase Two, which broke ground in December 2025 and is scheduled to open in November 2028, centers on a new Conservatory Complex, Learning Pavilion and expanded garden features on the institution’s 15-acre downtown Sarasota bayfront campus.
A key feature will be a new hurricane-resilient conservatory designed to protect Selby Gardens’ plant collections from extreme storms.
“We had to figure out how to build hurricane-resilient glass houses,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens. “That sounds like — well, how do you do that? But we figured it out.”
The trademark-pending design, dubbed the “Selby System” by Selby Gardens, uses lightweight, high-performance polycarbonate glazing validated through missile testing that launched 2-by-4s at the materials at 150 mph.
“Everyone is looking to resilience at our sister institutions in Florida and globally because it’s an important issue,” Rominiecki said. “We know these big climate events don’t just happen in Florida.”
After hurricanes Helene and Milton hit in 2024, the design team elevated the conservatory’s flood resilience from a 100-year to a 500-year standard, Rominiecki explained. Visitors entering the collections area will stand nearly 15 feet above sea level.
More plants going on public display
The conservatory will also transform what the public can see. Today, fewer than 5% of Selby’s living research collections — including scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads — are on public display. The new facility will make nearly 100% visible. A Learning Pavilion will expand education programs.
Phase Two will run entirely on renewable energy with rainwater harvesting and stormwater management throughout, building on sustainability measures incorporated into Phase One. Selby Gardens has noted that Phase One made it the world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden complex and included the world’s first net-positive energy restaurant, the Green Orchid, powered entirely by solar energy.
The total raised across Phase One and Phase Two is more than $127 million, with 99% coming from private philanthropy, Selby Gardens noted. Willis Smith Construction is the construction manager and OLIN serves as lead master planner of the project.
Phase Three will follow the 2028 opening with restoration of the campus’ two historic buildings, unified walking paths and seawall improvements. For more information visit selby.org.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Major Sarasota attraction begins next phase of $60.9M expansion
Reporting by Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
