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Facilities

Research Laboratories and Equipment

Horticulture Hall has approximately 7,500 sq. ft. of laboratory space divided among our research faculty. Our facilities are safe, well-equipped, and conveniently located to faculty offices.

ISU’s Plant Science Infrastructure

Horticulture graduate students have access to several of ISU’s cutting edge instrumentation and analytical facilities required for plant biology research.  These include Genomics, Next Generation Sequencing, Proteomics, and Metabolomics platforms, Electron Microscopy Facility and other imaging technologies, Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics Center, Biofuel/Bioeconomy Institute.

Teaching Facilities

Approximately 7,000 sq. ft. of Horticulture Hall is devoted to teaching activities. Classrooms 118 and 138 are comfortable, convenient, and recently received remodeling/upgrades including state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment. In addition, a manual drafting lab and CAD (computer-aided drafting) lab have been added to facilitate the teaching of several new landscape design/construction courses.

Horticulture Research Station

Established in 1965 and located approximately 4 miles north of Ames, the 230 acre ISU Horticulture Research Station has become one of the premier outdoor laboratories for faculty, staff, and students in the College of Agriculture, and for our many adult, life-long learners. Supporting all three University missions (research, teaching, and outreach/Extension), the Station is located on a beautiful and secluded tract of land only a short drive from central campus. The Station’s natural setting and suite of applied/hand’s-on activities conspire to create the ideal environment for experiential learning for both current and prospective students.

Reiman Gardens

Horticulture gardens on the ISU campus date back as far as 1914. The first gardens were located north of the Farm House. In the 1960’s, the horticulture gardens were moved to a 3/4 acre site just north of the campus power plant. In 1993, alumnus Roy Reiman and his wife Bobbi made a substantial donation to build new horticulture gardens on a highly visible tract of land just south of Jack Trice Stadium. The new horticulture gardens, now renamed the Reiman Gardens, were officially dedicated in the fall of 1995. Initially, the Department of Horticulture was responsible for the budget and management of the Reiman Gardens, however, as the mission and size of the Gardens expanded, the University assumed the administrative role.

Greenhouse

IMG0400smallThe newly constructed glass greenhouses were placed into service in June 2011 and cover approximately 10,400 sq. ft. of area serving the needs of the Department of Horticulture faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students.

IMG_0383smallThis “21st Century” range consists of eight 20 ft. x 25 ft. separate bays for research purposes and approximately 5600 sq. ft. of space divided into four bays for instructional use. The range has steam converted to hot water perimeter base lines with overhead snow melting capabilities and in-floor coil heat tubes. A dual purpose shade curtain/thermal blanket system is used for heat retention in cold periods, and sun shading during the summer. Fan and pad or fog cooling systems provide superior growing conditions during hot periods. The control system is web based and is equipped with auto dialer environmental alarms and can be accessed anywhere that a smart phone has a signal.

IMG_0393smallThe Department of Horticulture Greenhouses are attached to Horticulture Hall and support activities related to specific courses, research projects, extension demonstrations and departmental functions. The greenhouses cover about 10,400 sq. ft. separated into two areas designated as “Research” and “Instructional” wings.

IMG0413smallThese new wings were completed in June 2011 and replace an older set of glass houses built in the early 19th century with additions in the 1980s. The “Research” wing consists of eight bays approximately 20 ft. x25 ft. with supplemental lighting to extend day length or photoperiod. The “Instructional” wing covers approximately 5600 sq. ft. divided into four bays. Approximately 300 sq. ft. of bench space has intermittent mist irrigation for plant propagation.

IMG0414smallAll bays are heated with steam converted to hot water and pumped to in-floor coils, base and overhead snow melting heat lines with automatic side or roof venting and shade/thermal blanket systems for heat retention or exclusion. Additionally, each bay has programmable receptacles, connections for tempered, deionized, domestic waters and water with fertilizer at a high and low rate. The greenhouse environmental control system is web based and is equipped with auto dialer environmental alarms and can be accessed anywhere that a smart phone has a signal.

IMG_0395smallThe public is invited to visit from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Groups larger than ten are encouraged to call 515-294-2100 to make arrangements. There is no admission fee.

Horticulture Building Floor Plans

Basement Floor
Ground Floor
First Floor
Second Floor

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