One of Bayer CropScience’s main goals is to increase the quality and yield potential of crops. Their North American headquarters in Research Triangle Park was in need of an insect containment greenhouse for research involving non-local insects and nematodes and their effects on soybean and corn plants. Bayer Greenhouse 1 has approximately 10,000 square feet of greenhouse space in which each compartment has its own sealed containment to keep insects from escaping. Additional components include HEPA filtration on one air handling unit, anterooms, and negative pressurization. One of the greenhouse compartments was designed to a BSL3-P containment level for fungal pathogen research (soybean rust). An additional 10,000 square feet of space includes a work area, support space, laboratories, offices, growth chambers, and circulation spaces. The facility is a single story Venlo design with a traditional construction headhouse.
Clark Nexsen provided architectural and interior design as well as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering. The design of this project was coordinated with adjacent projects, Greenhouse 6 and the North Parcel Infrastructure (both designed by Clark Nexsen), and the R&D Lab Building.