In June of 2011, the West Virginia University Board of Governors approved construction of the Evansdale Greenhouse as part of a major renovation and rejuvination of WVU’s Evansdale Campus. Demolition began on the previous structure in August of 2011, and primary construction of the new facility was completed in the summer of 2012.
The previous greenhouse was constructed in the early 1960s. The facilities and systems were beyond their lifespan and did not meet the current or future needs of WVU’s research and academic programs. This project is a collaboration between the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and the USDA Forest Service.
The new 28,250 sq. ft. facility was designed by Paradigm Architecture of Morgantown and Birmingham, Ala., and constructed by March-Westin Co. of Morgantown. The project was overseen by John Sommers of WVU Facilities Management.
The Evansdale Greenhouse benefitted greatly from private support from the following generous donors:
- John and Joyce Allen contributed funds for the development of the student lounge space.
- Jim “Apples” McClelland, a longtime supporter of WVU’s Horticulture program, contributed funds for the equipping of two state-of-the-art classroom spaces.
- The West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association contributed funds for the equipping and decoration of the conference room.