The National Tropical Botanical Garden has broken ground on its new multimillion-dollar Botanical Research Center, and foundation work is under way.

The structure will be built to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds, and is being constructed with a range of sustainability features that will certify it under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. It will be the first Kaua'i building to achieve that certification.

In addition to offices, laboratories, seminar space, a computer lab and herbarium collections, it will house the Loy McCandless Marks Botanical Library.