Kendall S.
Yelp
An absolutely gorgeous space both outside and in, BRIT is a must-see for locals and tourists alike. Before I went in person, I looked up their website to see what this impressive homage to green living and environmental education is all about. They have a brilliant tagline ending their introductory description that says, "come visit our world to discover your world." How lovely and captivating is that notion?
BRIT is right around the corner from the Botanic Gardens - a place I absolutely love to frequent. It's pretty strange and silly that I never went to explore the research facility and beautiful venue space next door - not until recently. From the outside, the building appears simple but grand with tall windows in straight lines. It's very angular and clean-cut; a meticulously structured building set amongst an organic landscape. The lawns outside are huge and sprawling, and the rooftop is living - another lawn a few stories high!
The inside of BRIT is absolutely beautiful. The architecture is stunning - this would be a fantastic venue for a wedding or any event. Check out the pics here on Yelp and on their website to see just how open, unique, and memorable the space is. They even have a little rooftop patio! There's a grand staircase in the center that makes the space feel extra fancy and a bit whimsical, and all the natural light brightens everything beautifully.
BRIT's mission is to conserve nature and to teach people how valuable plants are to our world, and they do this in a variety of ways: award winning research, classes for children and adults, events centered on their goal, farmer's markets, volunteer opportunities, and their impressive collections and herbarium (which houses over 1 million plants... WHAT!). Whether or not you're interested in learning exactly how and why our environment operates the way it does, hopefully all understand how important it is that so many people have dedicated their lives to doing so. We're all of this earth! Come to BRIT to celebrate.