University of Massachusetts, Amherst CNS Research & Education Greenhouse

Location

Amherst, MA / United States

Completed

2011

Total Square Footage

16,000 GSF New
4,500 GSF Renovation

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences (Botany)

LEED STATUS

LEED-NC 2.2 Gold Registered

The CNS Research & Education Greenhouse is a new plant research facility for the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The project includes a new 10,000 SF research greenhouse, a new 5,500 SF laboratory for the Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences Department (PSIS) and a renovated 4,500 SF teaching greenhouse.

The teaching greenhouse is an open, flexible environment for introductory botany instruction and plant experimentation. The space is designed to maximize research capability by featuring sophisticated automated systems to control natural and artificial lighting, temperature, humidity, irrigation and fertilization. The laboratory is a complex research and teaching facility, featuring two research laboratories, a wet/dry classroom for botany instruction and a core facility for seed germination.

The laboratory is a modern reinterpretation of a New England barn, balancing the historic, agrarian character of the University’s roots with the spirit of cutting-edge plant research. Sustainable features include an innovative stormwater retention system, sustainably harvested woods, a "heat wheel" energy recovery system (labs) and an evaporative cooling system (greenhouse).