GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WHTC) –Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will undergo a major expansion with a $115 million capital campaign called ‘Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love.”
To date, nearly $102 million has been raised for the capital campaign. A 2016 economic impact study, conducted by Grand Valley State University, estimated that Meijer Gardens supports or contributes more than $75 million to the Kent County economy each year. Meijer Gardens has now become one of the 100 most visited museums in the world
New areas will allow Meijer Gardens to expand annual horticulture exhibitions, provide more galleries for sculpture exhibitions, add room for guests to move about safely and easily, host more events, and create additional space that is LEED-certified and architecturally significant. The project will also add parking capacity and improve vehicle flow.
The project will include:
- A new 60,000 square foot, LEED certified Welcome Center
- A new 20,000 square foot, LEED certified Covenant Learning Center
- A new Peter C. and Emajean Cook Transportation Center
- Expanded and upgraded Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
- A new Sculpture Garden Entry Plaza
- A reimagined and expanded BISSELL, Inc. Scenic Corridor
- A new Outdoor Picnic Pavilion
- A new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden
- Expanded and accessible parking and urban gardens
Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2017 and last approximately four years. New York firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners has been selected to re-envision and expand the facilities.
The full 2017 Fifth Third Ballpark Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens lineup will be announced in mid-April. A few shows have already been announced such as Four Voices — Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers on June 4th and Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson on August 18.
