Callaway Gardens opens 'green' conference center

PINE MOUNTAIN - Callaway Gardens, one of the country&#39;s leading botanical centers, has built a $12.6 million environmentally friendly conference center. <br> <br> The Southern Pine, a 54,000 square-foot convention center scheduled to open Friday, aims to bring meeting groups closer to nature and is expected to be the first certified ``green&#39;&#39; conference center in the United States. <br> <br> Callaway&#39;s president, George Fischer, said he believes people want experiences close to nature. <br> <br> The Southern Pine, which includes two ballrooms, a business center, retail shops and a 150-seat dining hall, blends into the surrounding pine forest with extensive use of glass, allowing meeting rooms to look out onto landscaped terraces and courtyards. <br> <br> Heart of pine floors and indoor and outdoor stone fireplaces enhance the woodlands feel along with a series of connected meeting spaces that illustrate a ``village in a garden design.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The center is located near the main entrance, with access to Callaway&#39;s golf, tennis and fishing resort. <br> <br> The opening of The Southern Pine comes at a time when the 14,000-acre Callaway Gardens is reorganizing to emphasize its three major areas -- the Gardens at Callaway, the Resort at Callaway and the Preserve at Callaway. <br> <br> Plans are under way to dedicate ten-thousand acres as a nature preserve and add a 100-room lodge, private golf club and golf course to the property surrounding The Southern Pine.