Education Custom Greenhouse Designs

Gothic Arch Greenhouses offers greenhouse packages for all levels of growers that are durable, affordable, and scaled from “just getting started” through “all-inclusive.” Our greenhouse packages begin with a top-quality professional greenhouse, and then add all of the elements and accessories that you will need to run and manage a productive greenhouse.

Our instructional greenhouse packages include cooling, ventilation, and heating for a controlled growing environment that is stable no matter the season, offering year-round protection from the elements and pests. Other packages add extras like greenhouse lighting, benches, irrigation, shade cloth, blackout shade systems, hydroponic grow systems, and more for even more functionality, all scaled to the square footage of your new greenhouse.

Our high-quality professional greenhouse packages give you everything you need to start growing faster, with propane or natural gas heaters, vents, circulation fans, shutters, exhaust fans, and more. Ordering a complete greenhouse package saves you both time and money, by eliminating the calculations and guesswork of finding correctly-sized components that work together for your space. They are designed to maintain ideal growing conditions inside, no matter the weather. Whether you have acreage for plant production or want a simple rooftop greenhouse, our complete greenhouse packages come in options of all sizes and scales to get you started quickly and easily, with equipment customized to your structure and needs. Choose from packages suited to your climate, your crop, your use, or your square footage.

Gothic Arch Greenhouses offers the smartest, most comprehensive greenhouse package programs for schools and institutions. Our Five-Phase program offers packages for four different student/ group sizes, with upgrade packages for each phase of growth and enrollment in your agriculture or horticulture program. Take the guesswork out of starting your educational greenhouse; our packages include everything you need, chosen to work together seamlessly to create the optimal growing and learning environment.

We understand that school and institutional greenhouse projects often rely on sponsors, grants and government funding to get started. Our greenhouse experts will help you choose an existing greenhouse package or a custom build a package to meet the changing budgetary demands of institutional agricultural and horticultural programs.

In addition to offering large greenhouse packages for schools and institutions, we also offer a number of small-scale packages that are ideal for smaller playgrounds, courtyards, and even growing inside the classroom. Whether you are looking to teach your students about traditional growing methods, hydroponics, or aquaponics, we have complete packages that will work within your space.

1. Incorporate Smart Technology

• Automated Systems: Include systems for automated watering, temperature control, and lighting to teach students about automation and control systems engineering.
• Sensors and Data Logging: Equip the greenhouse with environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, soil moisture, light levels) that feed data to a central computer or app. This allows students to engage in data analysis and learn about the importance of monitoring in agricultural technology.

2. Design for Experimentation

• Modular Layouts: Use modular beds and planting areas that can be easily reconfigured for different experiments or projects, facilitating flexibility in teaching various subjects.
• Controlled Environment Sections: Design sections of the greenhouse that can be manipulated to create different environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, light intensity), enabling experiments on plant growth under varying conditions.

3. Sustainability Features

• Renewable Energy Sources: Integrate solar panels or wind turbines to power the greenhouse systems, demonstrating renewable energy applications.
• Water Conservation Systems: Implement rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation systems to teach about water conservation and sustainable agriculture practices.

4. Engineering and Design Focus

• DIY Building Projects: Provide opportunities for students to be involved in the building or expansion of the greenhouse, applying engineering and design principles.
• Innovative Materials: Use innovative materials in construction, such as recycled plastics or sustainable timber, to discuss materials science and environmental impact.

5. Interactive Learning Spaces

• Workstations: Equip the greenhouse with workstations that include microscopes, measurement tools, and other scientific equipment for conducting experiments.
• Display Areas: Create areas where students can display their projects or experiments, fostering a sense of accomplishment and encouraging peer learning.

6. Curriculum Integration

• Project-Based Learning: Design the greenhouse program around project-based learning initiatives that require students to apply multiple STEM disciplines to solve real-world problems, such as designing a sustainable mini-ecosystem or creating a hydroponic vegetable garden.
• Cross-Disciplinary Themes: Encourage themes that span across the STEM fields, such as the mathematics of plant growth patterns, the science of photosynthesis, the technology behind climate control, and the engineering of sustainable agricultural practices.

7. Community and Industry Partnerships

• Partnerships: Develop partnerships with local universities, research institutions, and industry professionals who can contribute expertise, resources, or guest lectures to enrich the STEM greenhouse program.
• Field Trips and Externships: Arrange for students to visit commercial greenhouses, agricultural research stations, or sustainability-focused companies to see the application of what they learn in a professional setting.

Implementation Tips

• Start with a Vision: Begin by defining clear educational objectives and outcomes for the STEM greenhouse program. This vision will guide the design process and ensure the greenhouse serves its intended educational purpose.
• Involve Stakeholders: Include teachers, students, and community members in the planning and design process to ensure the greenhouse meets the needs and interests of all stakeholders.
• Plan for Growth: Design the greenhouse with scalability in mind, allowing for future expansions or enhancements as the program evolves and funding becomes available.

Custom-designed greenhouses for STEM education programs can transform the way students learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, making education more engaging, practical, and relevant to the challenges of the 21st century.