The American Rose Center in Greenwood Louisiana hired Somdal Associates to assist them with the design of a 11,000 square foot visitor’s center. The multi-purpose building serves the organization in several ways. The building is sited near the entry to the gardens in a grove of pine trees and serves a daily role as the New Welcome Center and Gift Shop. Soft surface parking is provided adjacent to the building for large functions and this has the added benefit of regulating vehicles at the entrance of the property and keeping them from disturbing visitors in the garden. The building location and parking were studied in depth during the planning process to assure minimal impact on the gardens and the natural setting presented by the adjacent pine forest. Similar site conditions will exist at the Hodges Gardens site.

The building's other major function is as a reception facility and banquet hall. Over the decades the Jane Owen and Quintin T. Hardtner, Jr. Chapel at the American Rose Center has become a popular destination for weddings; however, the organization lacked the facilities for receptions. The new multi-purpose facility now allows the center to offer the combined services of the chapel and reception hall. The reception facility has a modern state of the art commercial kitchen, bride's area, and banquet room able to accommodate 250 patrons.

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