Univ. of Calif. Riverside’s plant research facility enables year-round plant growth

The University of California, Riverside’s new plant research facility, a state-of-the-art greenhouse with best-in-class research and climate control technologies, recently held its grand opening. Construction of the two-story, 30,000 sf facility was completed in 2021. It then went through two years of preparation and testing.

The facility will enable students and faculty from UCR’s College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) to conduct innovative studies previously unachievable at the university. Teams are currently investigating how well bees can pollinate in different climates, testing how to grow rice to withstand drought and flooding conditions, and examining how plants can serve as soil decontaminants.

The gables of the surrounding greenhouses inspired the design of the building, which is expressed in the upper-level glass roofs. The serrated concrete walls at the ground level, and the array of fans running across the structure’s south elevation complement the rhythmic quality of the upper-level greenhouses. The minimalist use of concrete, steel, and glass allows the building to display its overall function and historical connectedness. The upper level supports a compact cluster of 16 greenhouse modules, each its own independent laboratory.

The serrated concrete wall that envelops the lower-level acts as a thermal mass that stabilizes swings in internal temperature, reducing the need for mechanical air conditioning and capitalizing on the Southern California climate. Each upper-level greenhouse is encased in double-pane polarized glass, revealing the research activities taking place within.

Humidity, temperature, lighting, and other conditions can be independently calibrated in each module to mimic a diverse range of conditions. Climate control is assisted through vertical and horizontal automated shades that enable researchers to closely tune the natural light. Air-conditioning stabilizes select areas, but an evaporative cooling system covers the whole building, allowing it to maintain temperatures lower than other research greenhouses on the campus.  

“We are anticipating placing priority on projects that need more specialized environment, things that need humidity and more accurate temperature control,” says Peggy Mauk, director of agricultural operations and a professor of subtropical horticulture with CNAS. According to Mauk, the facility will work well for research involving insects that need colder temperatures, plants that grow at high altitudes, or pathogens requiring tightly controlled environments. “The building is the first new plant research facility built on campus in close to 40 years,” says CNAS

Dean Kathryn Uhrich, “and is considered instrumental in maintaining UCR's continued leadership in agricultural research for the coming decades.”

On the project team: 

Owner and/or developer: University of California, Riverside 

Design architect: Perkins&Will Los Angeles

Architect of record: Perkins&Will Los Angeles

MEP engineer: tk1sc

Structural engineer: Coffman Engineers

General contractor/construction manager: DPR Construction