SNRAS groundbreaking

April 25, 2011

Officials gather to break ground at the site of the new greenhouse being built on UAF's West Ridge. From left to right: Jack Wilbur from Design Alaska, Murray Richmond representing state Senator Joe Thomas, State Representative Jay Ramras, University of Alaska Regent Jo Heckman, Chancellor Brian Rogers, Dean of the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Carol Lewis, local entrepreneur Bernie Karl and Bert Bell of GHEMM Co, Inc., General Contractors.

UAF held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences West Ridge Greenhouse Friday, April 22.

The $5.325 million facility will be located on the south side of the Arctic Health Research Building. When completed, it will include 4,300 square feet of greenhouse space and nearly 1,300 square feet of space for growth chambers. It will replace the aging 4,800-square-foot greenhouse facility that was dismantled in March to make way for construction of the Life Sciences Facility.

The facility will feature an energy curtain that can be pulled down to conserve energy in the winter.

The new greenhouse facility also includes 1,100 square feet in the adjacent Arctic Health Research Building, with space for laboratories, classrooms, a headhouse (the non-growing work area), soil preparation, offices and storage. Those renovations were completed last summer. This summer’s project will complete most of the new facility. The university plans to complete the last portion of the project, air handling and climate controls for the lower-level greenhouses this winter.