Hilltop Arboretum Education Facility receives $1,066,494

(l. to r.) Dr. Paul W. Murrill, Jeff McLain, Cathy Coates, Dr. Michael V. Martin, Mr. David Cronrath.

On December 1, 2009, LSU Chancellor Mike Martin recognized Friends of Hilltop, whose members, along with other individuals, corporations and foundations, have collectively contributed $1,066,494 in cash and pledges to the Forever LSU campaign for the construction of an enclosed educational facility at the LSU Hilltop Arboretum on Highland Rd. Friends of Hilltop is a nonprofit corporation, established to maintain and improve the property donated by Emory Smith to LSU in 1981. This recognition took place at the organization's annual membership meeting.

The LSU Hilltop Arboretum strives to be a nationally-recognized center for the study of plants and landscape design. The 14-acre nature preserve is noted for its collection of over 150 species of plants native to Louisiana, its unique topography, and its reputation as a readily accessible space where people can experience and learn about nature, plants and the Louisiana landscape. Stewardship of Hilltop is shared by the LSU Reich School of Landscape Architecture and Friends of Hilltop. Hilltop is an integral part of the school, which is using the Arboretum in its research, teaching, and service activities. In addition to maintaining and improving the site, the Friends group is an educational organization with programming offered to the broader community. More than 5,000 people participate in Hilltop activities and programs annually, including children of all ages, adults and professionals who earn continuing education credits.

Since 1998, Friends of Hilltop has included in its long-range master plan an enclosed facility that will serve as a model of sustainable building practices and environmental stewardship for the citizens of Louisiana. The new building will serve as an educational tool and as an example to the community, as LSU's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified structure. LEED is the international benchmark for sustainable building.

This new structure is part of the original architectural design created by Lake/Flato Architects, which includes the buildings which now house Hilltop's administrative offices, library, gift shop, and open-air Margaret Homes Brown pavilion, built in 2000. Lake/Flato of San Antonio, TX, is internationally recognized for environmentally responsible design.

Friends has just under $200,000 remaining to completely fund construction. Friends of Hilltop hopes to complete this final phase during the first quarter of 2010, so construction can begin soon afterward.

For more information about the Friends of Hilltop capital campaign visit www.lsu.edu/hilltop, call 225-767-6916,or donate online at www.lsufoundation.org.

The Forever LSU campaign is the historic effort by the LSU community to attain more than $750 million in support for our university by the end of the year 2010. Since the beginning of the campaign in 2001, more than $659 million has been given in support of LSU by its alumni and friends worldwide. To find out how you can join the campaign for LSU's future, visit www.foreverlsu.org.

For additional information regarding this story, the LSU Foundation or the LSU College of Art + Design, contact Scott Madere at 225-578-3826 or smadere@lsufoundation.org.