SNRAS opens new greenhouse
November 28, 2011
With the quick snip of an enormous pair of scissors across a royal blue ribbon, University of Alaska Fairbanks officials opened the new $5.325 million School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences/Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station greenhouse.
The teaching and research on the West Ridge replaces the 40-year-old West Ridge greenhouse that was removed earlier in 2011 to make space for the construction of the Life Sciences building. The new greenhouse extends along the south side of the Arctic Health Research Building.
The 4,500-square-foot greenhouse includes space-efficient teaching and research areas equipped with state-of-the-art environmental control and innovative plant production systems. The finished upper level includes two greenhouse sections of 750 square feet and two sections of 375 square feet. The lower level has three sections of 750 square feet each and houses a 900-square-foot growth chamber area.
“We are very excited about the research, teaching and outreach opportunities the greenhouse will provide for our faculty and students,” said Carol Lewis, dean of the SNRAS and director of AFES.
A computerized control system monitors and regulates environmental variables such as temperature, humidity and light intensity in each greenhouse compartment, providing optimal conditions for plant growth.
“This will provide excellent opportunities for students to prepare for careers in the modern greenhouse industry,” Lewis said.
The greenhouse currently features a finished upper level and a partially complete lower level. The greenhouse complex also includes 1,100 square feet of classroom space, a laboratory, two offices, a clean room, storage and an area for handling plant materials, fertilizers and potting media.
For more information contact Nancy Tarnai, UAF SNRAS information officer, at 474-5042 or ntarnai@alaska.edu.