Bok Tower

Nestled in the heart of Florida at one of the highest points in the state, the 205-foot Singing Tower rises above National Historic Landmark, Bok Tower Gardens. The gardens have welcomed more than 23 million visitors since it opened in 1929. Eighty-five years after construction, Bok Tower Gardens began an extensive expansion and revitalization. The key was to balance an improved experience for future visitors of the gardens with the preservation of the historic and cultural beauty, environment and wildlife habitat.

Existing topography and decades of plant life were evaluated to ensure minimal disruption to both the native and exotic plants. New primary walkways and shuttle routes were redesigned to enable all guests, including those with limited mobility, to have a more immersive garden experience from the Visitor Center to the Singing Tower. An artificial wetland was designed within the Wild Garden and Preserve in the northern area of the gardens. This area includes eight acres of land, a walking path, and a boardwalk through the wetland and bog area. The Wetland provides a haven and habitat for more than 170 different plants and wildlife, showcasing an oak hammock, wet prairie, and sand hill preserve with a variety of common and endangered native Florida plants.

Pennoni collected 3D data of the existing conditions, prepared conceptual and final construction drawings as well as refined, created and preserved the habitat, recreational areas and the landscape. To preserve the original landscape design, Pennoni used advanced design tools such as AutoCad and Civil 3D to create digital terrain models and hydrologic models.