Approach
This project, currently in design, will be located at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory at the Ohio State University’s main campus. The project’s design includes a 1-acre, state-of-the art greenhouse with various sizes of compartments (ranging 1,000 – 10,000 sq ft) controlled independently with integrated environmental control systems.
In addition to research and production greenhouses, the CEARC’s program includes a headhouse to support program requirements in research, teaching and outreach, including centralized fertigation & recirculation system, hot water boiler system for heating pipes and CO2 generation, potting and soil mixing area, a teaching laboratory space, gathering space, office space and restrooms. Future expansion capacities include housing phenotyping facilities, vertical farms as well as aquaponics and aquaculture.
The project includes substantial use of sustainable green technologies including rainwater collection, smart HVAC, smart lighting, etc. lt will be a pilot project with the University’s new Sustainable Campus Design Standards.
Erdy-McHenry Architecture out of Philadelphia, PA is the Design Architect and AOR on this exciting and innovative project. Our role assisting their team with this project is multi-faceted: to guide State of Ohio, City of Columbus and OSU review, approval and permitting processes; to provide laboratory planning, design, and specifications; to lead on site construction administration; and to provide cost estimating and sustainability services.
