Part of the Wellesley Science Center, the Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses are a group of fifteen large greenhouses portraying a range of climatic conditions, from desert to tropical rain forest. The facility is open to the public as well as the college, and receives frequent tours of large groups of people. This project is a 2000 SF addition to the existing complex of greenhouses to provide a new entrance, office, meeting room, and exhibit areas for these groups of people, as well as administrative offices and support space. The project was designed to respect massing and organization of existing greenhouses, and maintain existing rhythm of greenhouses and courtyard spaces. The entrance is designed as an integral part of the gardens, incorporating a brick wall, redwood pergola on which wisteria is planted, redwood gates, and a copper clad canopy. The building itself is modeled after the greenhouse structures, with a brick base, but rather than a glass superstructure, it is a wood-framed structure with timber trusses and clad in standing seam copper walls and roof, with panel widths similar in dimension and design to the greenhouse glazing system