The Chicago Botanic Garden’s dwarf conifer collection, one of the finest in the country, suffered from both a lack of visibility and connection to the rest of the garden. Hoerr Schaudt’s redesign welcomes visitors with grandeur — the grand entrance stair features dwarf conifers as pocket plants, nestled into cutaways and links the garden’s dramatic hillside to other parts of the botanic garden. Views along the ADA-accessible ascent include more than 150 different kinds of dwarf conifers, framed views of the adjacent Japanese Garden, and enhanced vistas from the summit. Images courtesy Chicago Botanic Garden