The Campus Greenhouse: the Past, Present, and Future

Oscar Kong ’25

Victoria Kenton ’25

Every day, students walk past a glass structure on their way to the RAC, Chaffee, or Hubbard, but how many have stopped and asked themselves what this building is? Often overlooked, this glass structure is the greenhouse on campus, mostly used by students in their land management after-school activity and by teachers in the Alvord Center, such as Mrs. Griggs and Mr. Dyreson. Though it is used as a greenhouse, the building has not been very “green” in the greenhouse in recent years. 

Decades ago, the greenhouse was a thriving ecosystem, teeming with life and color. It was a prominent feature of the Loomis campus, with a substantial budget dedicated to its growth. A framed picture in Gilchrist captures this former glory, showcasing towering Monstera plants and lush fruit trees. However, as a boarding school, maintaining the greenhouse during breaks proved a significant hurdle, especially during the summer.

Therefore, it has gradually been abandoned over the years, with occasional projects happening there. However, Mrs. Griggs has been very involved with the greenhouse these two years, successfully introducing more students to the space. Jake Delcampe and I, through our mutual passion for houseplants and gardening, decided to create a student-led effort to revive the greenhouse and bring plants into this space optimal for greenery. We noticed a lot of potential in the greenhouse, from a large aquaponics system that hasn’t been used for around three years to extensive irrigation and well-designed exhaust systems. Jake and I are working to fix the aquaponics system to transform the space into an edible garden and an exhibition-esque space for houseplants. We are also propagating plants to distribute to the Loomis community. We hosted a planting event for Earth Month on April 18th and have placed some of our plants in the library free for everyone. Other projects happening in the greenhouse include Mrs. Griggs’ seedlings program, in which she intends to cultivate small plants that can then be sold in the bookstore, something we have done in the past. 

The greenhouse was once a lively green space created by enthusiastic students and faculty. I hope that with passion and dedication, we, as a Loomis community, can once again bring life to the greenhouse.