The Ecology of Beauty
NBW developed a transformative master plan for Mt. Cuba Center, a 1,000-acre botanical garden in the eastern Piedmont region of Delaware. Dedicated to the conservation and celebration of native plants, Mt. Cuba Center is a nationally significant institution advancing ecological stewardship, education, and horticultural excellence.
NBW's design builds on this mission by enhancing the visitor experience while preserving the garden's distinct character. The Master Plan improves access to the Center's diverse plant collections and ecosystems — ranging from formal gardens to meadows and mature woodlands — through an integrated network of pathways, gathering spaces, and educational nodes.
Key goals of the plan include expanding opportunities for interpretation and immersion, improving circulation for both vehicles and pedestrians, and creating more inclusive access throughout the landscape. These physical interventions are grounded in a broader commitment to ecological resilience, with sustainable stormwater strategies, conservation plantings, and renewable energy systems embedded in the design.
Implementation of the first phase is well underway. Recently completed projects include a reimagined historic allée that preserves the site's heritage and formal gardens while supporting new forms of engagement and programming. A redesigned entry sequence now offers a more welcoming and legible arrival experience with ample visitor parking. Accessible pathways through the formal gardens are being constructed to ensure equitable access for all visitors, including the accessible path through Mt. Cuba's Woodland Glade. New facilities for native plant production, including a headhouse and greenhouse, have also been completed, supporting Mt. Cuba's mission of regional conservation and propagation.
Together, these efforts affirm NBW's commitment to designing with ecological intelligence and cultural sensitivity. The evolving landscape strengthens Mt. Cuba Center's role as a sanctuary for native flora, an educational resource, and an immersive public garden rooted in the Piedmont's natural heritage.
