Today, the modern Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is nestled within 252 acres in the heart of Orange, Texas. It is an ecological wonderland and living museum for visitors of all ages to explore.  The Gardens/Nature Center was developed back in the 1950’s by the Stark Family.  In 2002 The Stark Family funded a much needed renovation and upgrade to the Gardens, the result, a modern Shangri La as a world-class Nature Center. Visitors first experience the Nature Center when they explore the Nature Discovery Center, a hands-on exhibit dedicated to Shangri La’s wetland ecosystems. Following a stroll through Shangri La’s Cypress-Tupelo swamp on a boardwalk, visitors board the Outpost Tour watercraft and enter the world of cypress swamps while travelling to one of two Outposts.  At these Outposts, visitors learn about the importance of wetlands, upland forests, and grasslands to both man and wildlife.

Scope of work: GPSI provided Design Build services of both MEP engineering design & construction. Our construction scope included installation of all fountain MEP, pumps, controls, treatment systems and lake/pond aeration systems.

The Beck Group would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to you and your organization for your very active participation in the construction of the Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. The project has opened on March 11, 2008 with great success and enormous gratitude from the community and Nelda C and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation.

This project will forever be a part of our lives and yours because the mission that it was designed to fulfill is more than a project, but to be a part of the community. Let’s all celebrate the opening and what a wonderful addition this project will be to the community of Southeast Texas and knowing that our organizations committed so many man hours to the construction and completion of this project. What stands out the most is our dedication to building the right wat and making sure our team fulfilled the dream of what would be and is Shangri La.

This project has reached many outstanding milestones, but one that needs to be acknowledged is that we are LEED Platinum. Thanks to all your hard work to assure this project would be the 50th in the World, 1st in Texas, and 47th in the United States to reach LEED Platinum status.

Again, thanks so much for you participation in the project.

Paul Solberg, The Beck Group