To make room for a new biomedical research building, a new greenhouse facility will be built on the UCLA campus within the next twelve months. The greenhouse will mainly serve molecular plant biology, but because the university has no alternatives if plant biology is to remain in Westwood, part of the structure will need to be situated on botanical garden property. Specifically, most of the glass portion will sit on the northern half of The Field, while the headhouse will sit on the soon-to-disappear Hershey Hall basketball court. A road for fire truck access will extend from Charles E. Young Drive to the headhouse.
Director Gibson and his staff have been working very closely with the planners involved in this project to make certain that our valuable plants are moved out of harm's way and relocated to other suitable locations in the garden. We're taking great care to insure that all concerns about MEMBG and its programs are addressed and resolved to our satisfaction. In addition, the project budget is expected to pay all related expenses.
The current schedule has construction starting in mid-2000 and container plants being moved into the glasshouse units beginning January 2001. The greenhouse is expected to be fully occupied before April 2001, after which time the existing greenhouses, associated with the Plant Physiology Building, will be torn down in preparation for the new research center.