Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are one of the world's "greenest" facilities you will find in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is exactly located in Schenley Park. The facility is a historic landmark in the city of Pittsburgh and is part of the National Register of Historic Places. The architecture of the Conservatory was designed by Lord & Burnham, for nearly about $100,000. Then comes the glasshouse having nine display rooms. The glasshouse was completed in August 1893, complete one year right after the major construction began. The Phipps Conservatory opened to the public on December 7, 1893, with numerous plants from the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition on display.
The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation designated the Conservatory as a Historic Landmark in the year 1970. The National Register of Historic Places listed the Phipps Conservatory in 1976. The Conservatory, which had been maintained by the City of Pittsburgh since 1893, was transformed into a privately managed, city-owned non-profit company in the year 1993.
The Botanical gardens were established in 1893. The establishment was presented as a gift to the city of Pittsburgh by steel and real-estate mogul Henry Phipps. The core mission behind the establishment is to educate and delight the citizens of Pittsburgh via formal gardens such as Roman, English, etc. as well as exotic plant species. Some of the notable species are succulents, palm trees, bonsai, and orchids.
Currently, the Botanical gardens are housed within the fourteen-room conservatory along with the surrounding grounds. In addition to its core flora exhibits, the Lord & Burnham conservatory's complex metalwork and glasswork offer an interesting example of Victorian greenhouse design.
Being one of the world's "greenest" facilities, the Phipps Conservatory's entry pavilion has received LEED Silver certification. Its greenhouse manufacturing facility has been awarded Platinum certification, as a result of which, the facility is now the first and only greenhouse in the world to own such recognition. Furthermore, the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, which was built to be as environmentally friendly as possible, is LEED Platinum certified. Not only this but it is also self-sufficient in energy.
Phipps Conservatory is full of indoor and outdoor botanical gardens. Some of the top indoor gardens are Palm Court, Serpentine Room, The Fern Room, Stove Room, South Conservatory, Tropical Fruit and Spice Room, Tropical Forest Conservatory, Sunken Garden, Desert Room, Victoria Room, and so much more. On the other hand, outdoor gardens are Rooftop Edible Garden, Japanese Courtyard Garden, Children's Discovery Garden, Outdoor Garden, Botany Hall, and Aquatic Garden.