April 2023
The glass of the NEC is in! The classroom is almost finished and the porch is looking glorious. We are most excited about the beginning of our exhibit installation. We are very close to the finish line now and cannot wait to share it with you!
March 2023
The glass of the NEC is about to be put in! The interior of the carriage house is changing everyday (but don’t worry the historic plaster work is staying on the ceiling). We’re coming into spring looking forward to the installation of our exhibits!
February 2023
Construction is moving quickly as we near the completion of the NEC. We have windows, a porch, and electricity! Everyday, new, small details get added and we’re just so excited to share this space with our community!
January 2023
We’re almost there! The Nature Education Center now has 4 walls and a roof! Construction continues as the interiors of both the NEC and the carriage house become the focus. In just a few short months we will have new offices, classrooms, and a beautiful exhibit hall.
Topping Out Ceremony
Traditionally, builders nail a tree branch to the topmost beam in this celebration. The tree is the key symbol and has been used by many different cultures throughout the years. In Egypt, using a tree honored those who had died during construction. In Scandinavia, a tree at the highest building point appeases the tree-dwelling spirits. In America, erecting a tree on the top of a new building reconciles with the Native American belief that no building should be taller than a tree.
To read more about our ceremony click here
November 2022
The iconic atrium of the Nature Education Center is up! The work done in November clearly shows how the new building will attach to the historic carriage house. The classrooms in the carriage house are well under way with the floors having been poured and the preparations for doors and windows have begun! We’re very excited to be finishing off the year with such progress and are so thankful for those who have helped us make this dream a reality!
October 2022
The walls are up! The walls and struts for the NEC building went up in mid October. The carriage house renovations are also well under way as the classrooms begin to take shape! We saw a lot of progress in October that has the whole team at Cyburn Arboretum Friends excited!
September 2022
Work on the interior of the carriage house is well underway! The carriage house space will be our new classrooms! The foundation of the Nature Education center has been poured and we are excited to watch our future exhibit hall come to life!
July-August 2022
Supports can be seen in the interior of the carriage house. Trenches for the foundation are dug and supports for the new Nature Education Center are being put in place.