Purdue University LSR Phenotyping Greenhouse

Purdue’s College of Agriculture has developed nationally recognized expertise in plant phenotyping research which it desires to build on in the creation of a research greenhouse complex to replace their existing Life Science Ranges that is located along Russell Street. Their existing AAPF plant phenotyping facility has two growth chambers and the plant phenotyping conveyor and imaging systems.  This new greenhouse is located directly south of that building and will be integrated into the imaging systems in AAPF.  This project began with a comprehensive master plan for the existing greenhouses at the site including multiple schematic designs for phasing of the replacement and renovation of the greenhouses and future headhouse space.

The new greenhouse range is on a constrained site with poor soils requiring helical anchors for support of the new low iron tempered glass roof Venlo style greenhouse range.  On the east side of the new range, the existing spine corridor is being replaced and connected to existing greenhouse ranges.

The project will build nine new greenhouse compartments ranging in size from 341 ft2 to 2,170 ft2 for a total of 19,570 ft2 of new space.  All of the compartments have four-pipe under bench air handlers for hot water heating and chilled water cooling of the space.  Each compartment also has roof vents with insect screens.  All the services are provided via underground trenches that support each greenhouse compartment to minimize shading from the support piping.

Two of the compartments are setup to load plants onto the phenotyping conveyor that has a new leg into this greenhouse space.  Two other compartments have been designed to support gantry style phenotyping sensors being internally developed by Purdue University.