GMU's First Greenhouse
When thinking of sustainability efforts across GMU's campus you often think of the Office of Sustainability, the various food forests on campus, and the active greenhouses. While these current efforts are making a big impact, GMU's mission for sustainability started much earlier.
When George Mason was first beginning as a university instead of a branch campus of UVA, plans were made to construct a greenhouse for the Biology department on campus. This project was detailed in the biological greenhouse project report and estimated to cost a total of $81,025.
The greenhouse would "consist of four rooms under glass, each approximately 500 sq. ft.; a small plant science laboratory of approximately 100 sq. ft.; and an avena room of approximately 100 sq. ft. The total building should gross about 3000 square feet." There were also many special features and functionalities built into the Greenhouse for convenience, including a temerature regulating system, ventelation, shading panels to prevent overheating, soil sterilization, along with built-in benches and soil storage. Planning for the greenhouse started in 1971 and on September 12, 1974 the greenhouse was finally opened with an opening ceremony.
In 1977 Fred Herd wrote an article article in the student newspaper Broadside covering the greenhouse and detailing much of its purpose. It was built between West Building and Student Union. Barbara Miller is assumed to be the supervisor of the greenhouse. The greenhouse is used for reserach projects, stocking science laboratories with specimens, and for biology students to study the plants.
As an additional note, Miller did want to expand the greenhouse for projects unreleated to courses, but has not applied for an expansion at the time of the article.
