A contract worker begins dismantling the West Ridge Greenhouse on March 2.The work was scheduled to begin last week but was postponed due to heavy snowfall on Feb. 21.
The greenhouse, built in the early 1970s, had a long history of being the site of SNRAS research for everything from roses to hydroponics. It was used for classroom instruction in plant propagation and for growing transplants for the Fairbanks Experiment Farm and Georgeson Botanical Garden. Many students conducted research projects in the greenhouse. SNRAS researchers have said a fond farewell to the old greenhouse and are anticipating a new one on the southwest corner of Arctic health Research Building. In the meantime they are making do this spring and summer growing seasons by borrowing space from other greenhouses on campus.
“We’ll make it work,” said Professor Meriam Karlsson. “I know we have a new greenhouse coming.”
Every inch of the 3,600-square-foot greenhouse that can be reused will be. Most of it will be stored at the experiment farm and re-assembled at a later time. The parts that are not useful will be recycled or disposed of.
The new $4.8 million, 4,500-square-foot greenhouse will be constructed by Ghemm Co. Inc. of Fairbanks. Design Alaska did the architectural design. It will be attached to the western edge of Arctic Health Research Building. About 1,000 square feet will be dedicated to growth chambers (similar to a big refrigerator where temperatures can be controlled for the plants).
The facility will feature an energy curtain that can be pulled down at night in the winter. “Every modern greenhouse has this,” Dr. Karlsson said. “It will also have better greenhouse controls so we’ll have better ability to program the temperature, lights, humidity, and integrate the environmental variables with plant growth. This will open up all kinds of opportunities. There is a lot of interest in greenhouse production. This will be a place to come and see all the modern equipment and have educational opportunities.”
Fairbanks is a wonderful place to do greenhouse research, Karlsson added. “It’s where research should take place. The greenhouse manufacturers will be excited. If we can run a greenhouse in Fairbanks it will work anywhere.”
A groundbreaking for the new greenhouse is set for April 22 and the completion date is fall of 2011.
Out with the old, in with the new...At a March 1 open house for Life Sciences Project Manager Cameron Wohlford announced the 100,000-square-foot building will be open by the fall of 2013. The building will be used for 60 percent research and 40 percent teaching and should be reasonably energy efficient. Features include eight flexible labs, a support space for freezers, and a 150-seat auditorium.
“This is a cool deal,” Wohlford said. “We don’t get to build buildings up here often.”
He did say there are going to be major impacts to parking on West Ridge throughout the process. The Life Sciences website will keep interested parties informed of changes and closures. Also, the north entrance to Arctic Health will be closed all summer due to a revamping of the courtyard for a Center for Alaska Native Health Research project.
The Life Sciences groundbreaking is March 30 at 4 p.m.
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