On April 21, 2015, Â鶹ÊÓƵ held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new , a ceremony led by Tom Calhoun, then vice president of Facilities, and the Board of Visitors member Buddy Beck.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ students, staff and faculty got their first looks at the newly renovated greenhouse that was part of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's push toward improved sustainability. Dishes created with produce grown at the greenhouse were served at the celebration.
In an agreement between and , the greenhouse was expected to provide some 200 pounds of food to Ike’s and for catered university events, in exchange for funding of a part-time greenhouse staff position.
Before its rebirth as a food producer, the greenhouse was used to grow plants for biology and ecology experiments conducted by classes in the College of Science, which moved to a new greenhouse atop Exploratory Hall.
Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services