Project Details
Project Type
Location
Memphis, TN
Greenhouse(s)
Traditional glasshouse conservatory
Products/Services
- 1/4” laminated glass covering
- 1/8” tempered glass covering
- VFD fans
- Micro Grow controller
- Evaporative cooling system
- Shade system
- Stainless Steel Sterling GF unit heaters
About Memphis Botanic Garden
Every year, more than 40,000 kids and 260,000 visitors explore the beauty of nature at the Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG), discovering plants and wildlife right in the middle of the city. It’s an oasis that sparks curiosity and a greater appreciation for the environment.
Visitors can stroll through 30 unique gardens spread across 96 acres, take a guided tour to see the most notable trees in the arboretum, or wander along the Hosta Trail. For families, My Big Backyard, a 2½-acre garden with 16 themed areas, gives kids hands-on opportunities to play, learn, and connect with nature.
From plant sales and fall tram tours to yoga, art classes, and concerts, there’s truly something for everyone. Plus, MBG offers plenty of learning opportunities all year long with events like summer camps, gardening clubs, and school tours for visitors of all ages.
But there was one thing missing—a conservatory.
“The Youth Education and Tropical Plant House idea was a product of our most recent strategic planning sessions and the final plan,” says Michael Allen, retired CEO of MBG. “We felt that all great botanical gardens include a conservatory/glasshouse feature, and as we lacked one, we decided we would construct one.”
On May 3, 2024, the Garden officially opened its new conservatory, the Youth Education and Tropical Plant House, featuring tropical plants and an indoor water feature.
The glasshouse was the final piece of MGB’s Rooted at Park & Cherry capital campaign, which included four major projects. The glasshouse is not only the largest project—it’s the showstopper.
MBG first brought in Prospiant (formerly Rough Brothers and Nexus Greenhouses) as a design consultant in 2022. Prospiant helped with structure design and layout.
Construction began in October of 2024, and by March, Prospiant crews finished the glasshouse, with only a few finishing touches left to do before the grand opening in May.
Prospiant crews built and glazed the conservatory and installed most of its growing systems except for lighting and irrigation. A general contractor and other subcontractors worked on the foundation, electrical, and other related projects.
“We had a positive experience working with Prospiant,” Allen says. “Always with a project of this magnitude, there are hurdles to overcome along the way, but we had a very good working relationship with the Prospiant team, our general contractor, and subcontractors.”
Greenhouse Features
The new conservatory, standing 18 feet tall at the gutter, is a traditional glasshouse that stands out—especially at night with the LED lighting on.
With a footprint of 40 by 80 feet, the glasshouse covers 3,200 square feet. The roof is made from 1/4-inch laminated glass for safety, and the sidewalls are 1/8-inch thick tempered glass for extra strength.
Inside the glasshouse, MBG cares for several large trees, and thanks to the oversized, 12-foot Dutch-style double doors, it’s easy to move plants in and out.
Cooling was key to making this glasshouse work in Memphis’ hot, humid summers. Passive ventilation comes from sidewall vents and a ridge vent on the roof to keep airflow moving.
Four large VFD (variable frequency drive) exhaust fans pull air through intake shutters. A MicroGrow control system makes it easy to maintain the perfect climate by automatically adjusting the fan speeds to provide more or less ventilation in response to the temperature levels.
For extra cooling, the glasshouse also includes a shade system and an evaporative fan and pad cooling system with cellulose pads. And when the weather turns cold, high-end stainless steel Sterling GF unit heaters kick in to warm the glasshouse.
Stepping inside the glasshouse feels like entering a tropical rainforest brought indoors, complete with a soothing waterfall and winding flagstone paths.
Visitors can explore more than 200 different species or varieties of tropical plants from around the world. This sampling includes around 17 species of tropical palm trees and around 22 unique species or varieties of edible fruiting plants.
An outdoor patio near the greenhouse offers a spot for visitors to relax, and there’s an outdoor classroom where adults and children enjoy educational programs.
“For decades, education (youth and adult) has been a part of our Mission and is core to our Garden’s identity,” Allen says. “The Youth Education and Tropical Plant House, with its adjacent outdoor classroom gives both a home to this work and reinforces the critical importance of youth education as an important component to our future.”
So next time you find yourself in the Memphis area, take some time to explore the new conservatory and the rest of the gardens at MBG—you won’t regret it.
Memphis Botanic Garden relied on Prospiant for its largest and most complex project to date. Ready to bring a one-of-a-kind greenhouse to your next project? Contact us today!
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