The design of the new Christchurch Botanic Gardens Centre is in the spirit of classic garden architecture, strategically sited to complement existing pathways within the garden. As a base for botanic science and research, the building is designed to communicate and educate the visitor in the beauty, variety and complexity of the plant world.

The project was already underway before the earthquake, with Pattersons winning the design competition back in 2009. The combination of public and private spaces relate to each other through the glass walls of the greenhouse architecture.

Brightgreen's D900 Classic was chosen for this project due to the high CRI95, low heat output, dimmability, low glare and energy savings. The colour temperature is warm white, creating a welcoming atmosphere in the cafe and shop spaces.

The directional LED downlight sits behind the sculptured panels.  Light perforates through the irregular shapes cut in the panels casting shadow patterns within the space. With its long lifespan of up to 70,000 hours there is no maintenance required, which was key given the location behind the panels. Being a predominantly glass structure this stunning building casts a soft glow at night, acting as a warm beacon in the surrounding parkland.