The Steffen Center Greenhouse, built in 1995, is a 3000 square foot galvanized steel and polycarbonate greenhouse divided into four 750 square foot compartments. The greenhouse is located about one quarter mile east of the intersection of Grimes Way and Airport Road (about 1 mile from Abelson Hall) on the E.H. Steffen Center property administered by the Department of Natural Resource Sciences.
This facility is used predominantly for research but is also used for instructional purposes when appropriate. Temperature, light intensity and photoperiod are controlled with a Siemens System 600 computer system. Temperature data are collected weekly and stored in a spreadsheet format. This greenhouse is networked for remote access by the greenhouse manager from his main office and home and has alarm capabilities continuously monitored by WSU Facilities Operations. Other features include automated irrigation, fertilizer injection and movable bench tops to maximize bench space per room. This facility includes a 680 square foot head house for handling of plants, storage of potting supplies and work space for other greenhouse related research needs.