Maine Audubon Native Plants Education Center Opens

Maine Audubon recently celebrated the opening of the Ann & Jim Hancock Native Plants Education Center at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, Maine.

Wright-Ryan built the new high-performance, all-wood facility, designed by Kaplan Thompson Architects in collaboration with Aceto Kimball Landscape Architects and Acorn Engineering. Built primarily with local materials, the facility was designed with net-zero energy performance in mind. It now serves as a new hub for Maine Audubon’s education, native plant, and habitat restoration programs.

The facility includes a large classroom, restrooms, a small kitchen, storage, and dedicated stewardship space. Timber-framed canopies, expansive windows and doors, and surrounding native landscaping connect the building’s indoor programming directly with the landscape.

More than 150 people gathered for the May 27th ribbon-cutting, marking the completion of a project years in the making. The new center is already supporting statewide programming, including educational and environmental events focused on climate education, restoration horticulture, and nature-based strategies.