Redevelopment greenhouse complex Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens of Utrecht University are set to receive a new greenhouse complex. The current greenhouses house research facilities and a unique collection of tropical plants, among other things, but they are outdated and no longer meet the requirements of modern research and education. The new complex is expected to open in 2028 at the earliest.

The Botanic Gardens, including the greenhouses, form a living research and teaching site for Utrecht University. A new greenhouse complex is essential to continue vital research into biodiversity and other topics, and to preserve the tropical plant collection from Central and South America. 

The new complex enables more advanced and higher-quality plant research. The new complex will also house the Ecotron facility of the Netherlands Plant Ecophenotyping Centre (NPEC). This unique research facility consists of thirty-six separate research units in which researchers can create experimental mini-ecosystems for innovative ecological studies.
 

The old greenhouses in the Botanic Gardens.

Planning and progress

The greenhouses have been closed to the public since 1 December 2025. The plant collection has been relocated to external facilities. Various preparatory activities are currently underway in advance of the new construction. An important first step is the construction of temporary accommodation for the Botanical Gardens staff. This accommodation is expected to be completed by the end of July.

The temporary facilities include a storage building and a staff building with a canteen, offices and other staff amenities. Once these facilities are operational, work at the current site can continue.

In addition to the construction of the temporary accommodation, several preparatory activities will take place around the greenhouses in the coming period, including archaeological investigations and modifications to the underground infrastructure. These activities will gradually prepare the site for demolition and the next phase of the project.

Demolition of the greenhouses is expected to start in late August or early September.
 
Questions? Please contact the project team at: herontwikkelingkassencomplex@uu.nl.  
More information about the Botanic Gardens.

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