Elevated slightly from the street, this predominantly glass structure is a transparent jewel among its neighbors. Tree-shaped columns, found on the exterior and interior of the greenhouses, unify the design scheme and direct students in and through the department. Once inside, visitors, students, and staff can glimpse the activity inside or enjoy a few minutes of solitude in the conservatory. The 1,400-sf conservatory provides for the department to showcase its work.

The original greenhouses were demolished to make room for a new laboratory facility. The design implements the latest in horticulture technology and creates an opportunity to further the University’s commitment to agriculture science.

The new greenhouses allowed the University to accomplish many goals. As an instructional tool, the facility provides 500 sf of growing room in 11 distinct climates, each controlled by a specialized computer system, programmable to respond to light, temperature, humidity, and soil temperature. A head house provides space for potting and preparation. The building also allows multiple sections to be taught simultaneously while conducting different experiments.

Pad and fan cooling systems draw outside air from the central spine vents through a pad of trickling water and across the plants, cooling the space. All mechanical and electrical services feed down this central spine and are distributed to each compartment.

With the many plants in the greenhouses, disposing of organic waste becomes a necessity. A specialized dumping area has been created for plant material, excess soil, and potting media.  The waste is loaded into dump trucks and taken to experimental fields. Hazardous chemicals like pesticides are redistributed to departments that might need them.

The greenhouses design received an AIA Honor Award in 1998, the Madison Magazine Award of Excellence in 1998, and the Award of Excellence in Architecture, State of Wisconsin in 1997.

Project Information
Building Owner:		University of Wisconsin-Madison
Building Location:		Madison, Wisconsin UNITED STATES
Project Type:		New Construction
Principal Building Function:		Instructional greenhouses
Project Timeline		Sep 1993 Planning Start Dec 1993 Design Start Jul 1995 Construction Start Sep 1996 Completion Last known status: Completed
Project Cost:		$2,200,000
Construction Cost:		$1,900,000
Cost Per Sq. Ft:		$85
		About These Cost Figures
Building Information
Project Includes:		Biology Ecology Education Greenhouse Laboratory: Teaching
Total GSF:		22,400
Project Team
Architect		Flad Architects
Engineer - MEP		Affiliated Engineers Inc. (AEI)
Profile Created 02/02/2007
Last Updated 02/23/2007
About the Reported Cost Figures The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments. Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.