Design Profile: Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex

Universities worldwide are striving to develop sustainable food production methods to meet the demands of a growing population and changing climates. Located at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory on The Ohio State University's main campus, the Controlled Environment Agricultural Research Complex (CEARC) is instrumental in supporting the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Science's development of transformative solutions to enhance food security through improvements in agricultural vitality. CEARC covers over 47,000 square feet and features a 15,000 square-foot research support headhouse, along with 32,000 square feet of advanced growing space. The facility includes two greenhouse structures: a production greenhouse for various crop studies, from tall crop troughs to short stature hydroponic systems, and a research greenhouse for secure experimentation with plant pathogens. The greenhouses function as separate entities — they are constructed with innovative envelope systems and compartmentalized to accommodate diverse research needs. The exposed piping, ductwork, and conduits throughout the complex enhance both functionality and the visibility of its operational components. More than just a greenhouse, CEARC promotes interdisciplinary collaboration across fields such as horticulture, crop science, and plant pathology. The complex offers multifunctional spaces for teaching, events, and outreach programs, engaging students and the community through hands-on learning experiences and symposia. Research initiatives, including the use of bumblebee boxes for enhanced pollination, support CEARC's commitment to innovative agricultural practices. The headhouse, which includes administrative offices, teaching spaces, and laboratories, compliments the adjacent greenhouses and was constructed using a pre-engineered metal building system, allowing for a construction timeline that matched the greenhouses.  

Project: Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex 

Location: Columbus, Ohio 

Client: The Ohio State University  

Project Size: 56,000 square feet 

Project Team:  

Erdy McHenry Architecture (Architect) 

MA Design (Local Architect and Lab Consultant) 

Korda (Structural Engineering)  

Advanced Engineering Consultants (MEP/FP Engineering)  

Corna Kokosing (General Contractor)  

Feinknopf Photography (Photography)  

Surface 678 (Landscape Architecture)  

Gregg Short (Greenhouse Design) 

Photos: Brad Feinknopf | Feinknopf Photography