History
Past, Present and Future
- In 1930, Duke University built five greenhouses, constructed of wood and steel at the rear of the Biology building (now Sociology-Psychology) on West Campus. One of these greenhouses, known as the Rock Garden, was open to the public and referred to in the Alumni Register as "one of the most interesting as well as one of the newest features in the Duke campus." With flowerbeds constructed from rocks gathered on campus, the Rock Garden featured a carefully selected display of plants surrounded by waterfalls, cascades, and pools with tiny islands. Fish, turtles and baby alligators added to the natural ambiance.
- In 1960 when the present Biological Sciences Building was constructed on Science Drive, the greenhouses were dismantled and reassembled on a site ajoining the new building. Two new greenhouses were also added. This move was executed under the watchful eye of Professor William Louis Culberson. His foresight saw the houses over the next 40 years of productivity.
- By 1980 the original structure was 50 years old and sufficiently deteriorated to require major renovations. Prof. Culberson helped design new aluminum super-structures. These were erected on the old foundations. Twelve additional rooms, a headhouse and a lath house were also added. At that time, a state-of-the-art Grotron climate controller was installed. The project was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation and matching funds from Duke University.
- The next 20 years saw the addition of supplemental lighting, humidifiers, rolling benches, and a Q-Comm control system to meet the needs of a growing Biology Department.
- By 2003 it was becoming clear that the greenhouse complex, attached to the Biological Science Building and perched on a high sunny knoll between Physics and the Phytotron, was occupying valuable real estate. To make way for the new French Science Center, a five story building connecting Physics to Biology, the greenhouses were removed and a new Research Greenhouse, enlarged by 6,000 square feet, attaches directly to the back of the existing Phytotron building. For the first time in Duke's history, the collection of plants required for teaching and those involved for research were seen as serving seperate functions. A new greenhouse facility to house the Teaching Collection is scheduled for construction in March 2006. This facility will be located next to the Biological Sciences building and the bronze statue of Professor Knut Schmidt Nielson with the camel.
- In 2003 The Phytotron, once a National Science Foundation institute, became part of Duke University to be managed by the Biology department. This facility, together with the Research Greenhouse and the Teaching Collection are known collectively as the "Teaching and Research Plant Facility".
- Ground breaking for the new Teaching Collection Greenhouse is scheduled for March 2006. For current plans please click here.
1930's information taken from, Balancing Tradition and Innovation: The history of botany at Duke University 1849-1996, by Jessica Harland-Jacobs.