The Dawes Arboretum Breaks Ground on New $17 Million Welcome Center

NEWARK, OH –The Dawes Arboretum held a groundbreaking on Friday, August 21, for its $17 million Welcome Center.

The brand-new, approximately 29,000 square foot, Welcome Center will centralize accessibility and sustainability. It will serve as a greeting hub and point of information for The Arboretum’s visitors, members and donors.

New amenities include a cafe, indoor and outdoor seating areas, a larger gift shop, exhibit spaces and triple the number of restrooms.

This project was fully funded by The Arboretum’s endowment, trustees and staff. Dawes is investing in Dawes for the benefit of the public.

In the new Welcome Center, visitors will be able to find ADA-accessible bathrooms, an adult changing station, ramps, an accessible reception counter and a scenic outdoor deck accessible for all. The designer of this project is MA Design.

Additionally, The Arboretum is pursuing LEED and SITES certifications at the silver level to demonstrate its commitment to a sustainable project.

The project is estimated to take between 18-24 months to complete, and a projected grand opening is in the spring of 2028.

The current Visitors Center will be reimagined as a Discovery Center with educational and programming opportunities.

To keep up to date with the Welcome Center, visit its web page.