# Longwood Gardens Green Walls Wins ‘Best in Show’ - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/longwood-gardens-green-walls-wins-best-in-show/ - Published: 2011-09-24T00:49:14-04:00 - Author: greenlivingguy Longwood Gardens with Ambius [designers](https://www.ambius.com/designers/), the global plantscaping leader were honored to receive eleven awards. That’s including the prestigious Judges award for best in show. Thereby recognizing the company’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and professionalism. Especially in the interior plantscaping industry at the 19th annual. PIA Interior Plantscape Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at the Plantscape Industry Expo 2011 on September 1st, 2011 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. ## Longwood Gardens Green Wall Wins Best in Show Longwood Gardens has long blended horticulture, [architecture and sustainability](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/02/an-authentic-approach-to-sustainable-architecture/). In 2011, that combination earned major industry recognition. Ambius [received 11 awards](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/02/miami-dade-energy-receives-award-for-major-energy-savings/) at the 19th annual PIA Interior Plantscape Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet. The event took place on September 1, 2011, during the Plantscape Industry Expo in Las Vegas. Most notably, the company earned the prestigious Judges Award for Best in Show. ([The Green Living Guy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/longwood-gardens-green-walls-wins-best-in-show/)⁠) ![Longwood Gardens green wall with lush ivy, ferns, moss and colorful hydrangeas lining a bright glass conservatory walkway.](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/ wp-content/uploads/2026/08/3631698A-5192-44B4-BE5C-B6EB44D6B7BF.png?resize=400%2C267& quality=50&ssl=1) ## Longwood Gardens Living Wall Takes Top Honors The award recognized the Living Wall at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Ambius created the project as part of Longwood Gardens’ East Conservatory Plaza expansion. Bancroft Construction brought Ambius into the project, while landscape architect Kim Wilkie designed the plaza in association with Philadelphia-based Wells Appel. ([The Green Living Guy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/longwood-gardens-green-walls-wins-best-in-show/)⁠) The East Conservatory Plaza opened to the public on October 9, 2010. However, the project offered much more than a traditional garden renovation. It combined landscape design, architecture and [green infrastructure into one dramatic indoor environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/06/buying-non-leather-vegan-boxing-gloves/). ### A Massive Indoor Green Wall At the time, the Longwood Gardens installation ranked as the largest indoor green wall in North America. The living wall covers more than 4,000 square feet. In addition, it features approximately 25 species of tropical plants and ferns. ([The Green Living Guy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/longwood-gardens-green-walls-wins-best-in-show/)⁠) That scale makes the wall visually impressive. More importantly, it demonstrates how [designers can incorporate living plants](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/09/biophilic-office-design-bringing-nature-into-the-workplace/) directly into large buildings. Instead of treating greenery as simple decoration, the project makes vegetation part of the architectural experience. ### Green Walls Bring Nature Indoors Living walls can help transform indoor spaces. For example, they introduce natural textures, provide visual [connections to nature](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/03/here-is-this-months-microadventure-to-deepen-your-connection-to-nature-with-pbs-kids/) and can support biophilic design principles. Moreover, they allow property owners to add substantial amounts of vegetation without sacrificing large areas of floor space. That becomes especially valuable in conservatories, offices, hotels, public buildings and other heavily used spaces. Longwood Gardens pushed that idea to another level. Rather than installing a small decorative section, the team created a massive vertical landscape that became a major destination within the conservatory. ### Sustainability Meets Design Longwood Gardens Director Paul Redman described the wall as both a beautiful addition and part of the garden’s commitment to sound environmental practices. ([The Green Living Guy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/longwood-gardens-green-walls-wins-best-in-show/)⁠) That connection matters. Sustainable design does not always have to hide behind mechanical rooms, [efficient lighting systems](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/04/osram-installs-energy-efficient-lighting-systems-in-many-tennessee-state-facilities-including-wrs-tennessee-tower-supreme-court/) or building controls. Sometimes visitors can actually see [sustainability incorporated directly into a space](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/03/7-ways-to-make-your-coworking-space-more-sustainable/). A green wall does exactly that. It places plants at the center of the design. Consequently, visitors experience environmental design rather than simply reading about it. ### Ambius Earns Additional Awards The Longwood Gardens project also earned Ambius an Award of Excellence for its installation work. Meanwhile, the company’s project development team received another Award of Excellence for the complex rigging of a suspended atrium tree aboard the Celebrity Cruises ship Eclipse. ([The Green Living Guy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/longwood-gardens-green-walls-wins-best-in-show/)⁠) Ambius President Jeff Mariola credited the company’s designers and project teams for their innovation and commitment to meeting client expectations. The awards covered projects ranging from commercial buildings and shopping centers to healthcare facilities and cruise ships. ### Why the Longwood Gardens Green Wall Still Matters More than a decade later, the Longwood Gardens living wall remains a strong example of what happens when horticulture becomes part of building design. It demonstrates that green spaces do not need to remain outside. Architects and [designers can bring vegetation into buildings](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/07/two-leading-us-groups-partner-building-energy-efficient-homes/) in bold ways. Furthermore, living walls can help create spaces that feel healthier, calmer and more connected to nature. The Longwood Gardens project also showed that sustainability can be visually spectacular. Instead of choosing between environmental thinking and great design, the project combined both. That may be the most important lesson from its Best in Show recognition. Green building works best when sustainable features become part of the experience itself.