National Aviary – Wetlands Renovation

PROJECT: Roof and Sidewall Glazing Replacement
OWNER: National Aviary
DATE: 2022
CONTRACTOR: Greenhouse Renovation Services, Inc.
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Glazing and Structure Evaluation
Construction Oversight

This project was the second major renovation at the National Aviary. The Wetlands building was designed in 1967 and completed the following year. The glazing system was the original and had aged and deteriorated over the last fifty-five years and needed complete renewal. All of the glass was replaced, the interior steel framework was repainted and a complete replacement of the mechanical system was undertaken. The sidewall glazing was replaced with a patterned glass that resembled shoreline grasses. The overall light transmission level was increased by over twenty-five percent.


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Phipps Conservatory – Palm Court “O-G” Roof Replication


Palm Court – 1922

Palm Court – 2010

PROJECT: Roof Replication of Original 1895
OWNER: Phipps Conservatory/City of Pittsburgh
DATE: 2018
CONTRACTOR: Greenhouse Renovation Services, Inc.
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Structural Assessment
Glazing Consultant
Construction Documents

The original Palm Court roof design from 1893 included the curved roof with an extended concave curved ridge connection. This portion of the roof structure was severely damaged during a wind storm in 1934 and was removed from the structure leaving a typical flat line ridge. An engineering study done in 1998 proved that the structure was capable of having this “O-G” top reconstructed and plans for the restoration began in 2002. The finished project included the replicated roof structure and glazing, additional roof ventilation sash, replicated ridge cresting with bronze finials and a new interior roof access stairway and walkways for maintenance.


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Phipps Conservatory – Broderie and East Room Restorations

PROJECT: Roof and sidewall glazing system replacement
OWNER: Phipps Conservatory/City of Pittsburgh
DATE: 2022
CONTRACTOR: Greenhouse Renovation Services, Inc.
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Structure Assessment
Glazing Consultant

This project is the tenth major restoration effort in the complex of thirteen individual collection galleries within this late 19th century conservatory. These rooms were completely replaced in the 1970’s with new steel framework and an aluminum and acrylic glazing system which did not replicate the original design. This restoration returns the glazing to the original glass, glass spacing and replicated original rafters. The original vestibule entry fan window was in extremely bad condition with over thirty-five percent of the window completely rotten away. The fan window was completely disassembled and restored using laminated safety glass replacing the plastic glazing done thirty years prior.


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Reynolda Gardens – Conservatory Renovation and New Greenhouses

PROJECT: Reglazing and Mechanical Systems Upgrades
OWNER: Wake Forest University
DATE: 2021 – 2022
ARCHITECT: Joseph P. Oppermann
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Glasshouse Consultant

Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Reynolds contracted the Wm. H. Lutton Greenhouse Company to construct this conservatory complex on their estate in Winston Salem, North Carolina in 1913. After many years of minor improvements and program changes the greenhouses needed a complete renovation involving repairs, glazing system replacement and mechanical systems re-designed. A needs assessment was completed in 2021 and construction documents completed in 2022. Restoration work and construction of new production greenhouses for the facility are expected to begin in the Spring of 2023.


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Lyman Plant House, Smith College – Master Planning

PROJECT: Needs Assessment & Master Planning
OWNER: Smith College
DATE: 2022 – 2023
ARCHITECT: Grimshaw Architects
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Conservatory Consultant

The first of seven greenhouse structures was built in 1894 and the construction of the additional greenhouses continued through the 1950’s. Several renovation projects to the different greenhouses occurred during this fifteen-year period with the Fern House glazing replacement in 1984 and the complete group of greenhouses restored in 2002. Now, twenty years later, a second complete restoration is being considered along with a master plan renewal for all of the botanical garden greenhouses and horticultural elements.


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USDA, Woodward – Greenhouse Renovation

PROJECT: Reglazing and Mechanical Systems Upgrades
OWNER: U.S.D.A. Woodward, Oklahoma
DATE: 2022
ENGINEER: Sette
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Construction Documents

This all-aluminum framed glass greenhouse was constructed in 1993 and provides six individual research compartments. All of the environmental control equipment was in need of replacement and the facility was not in use at the time of the inspections. After the assessments were completed three re-construction options were presented and ranged from complete replacement of the greenhouse with new construction to selected mechanical equipment replacements.


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Dumbarton Oaks – New Renovation and Programming

PROJECT: Renovation of all mechanical systems and Cold Frames
OWNER: Dumbarton Oaks/Harvard University
DATE: 2022
CONTRACTOR: Selldorf Architects
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Environmental Systems Consultant

This project is the second renovation since the first that was completed in 2002. Proposed work involves complete replacement of the environmental control systems, structural floor replacement, exterior basement water proofing, new utility connections and renovations to the interior spaces including the separate Pit Greenhouse.


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Denver Botanical Gardens – Needs Assessment

PROJECT: Needs Assessment Conservatory & Greenhouses
OWNER: Wake Forest University
DATE: 2021 – 2022
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Glasshouse Consultant

Phillip Douglas, Director of Horticulture, contacted James Smith of Montgomery Smith, Inc. requesting that an evaluation of the Conservatory and Support Greenhouses at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Chessman Park, be done for possible improvements, alterations and additions to the existing complex of buildings. The plan was to meet with the Gardens’ development and maintenance staffs and user group individuals for a walkthrough of the Conservatory, Support greenhouses and other operations areas. Attendants of the group were; Susie Latona, Jonathan Gannon, Coleman Brawley, Marvin Garcia and Phil Douglas. Arrangements were made for a site visit scheduled for: August 3rd 2022 at 9:00 AM.


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Mathieson Center – Production Greenhouses Renovations

PROJECT: Reglazing and Mechanical Systems Upgrades
OWNER: Manchester Bidwell Corporation
DATE: 2022
ARCHITECT: IKM Associates
CONTRACTOR: Greenhouse Renovation Services, Inc.
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Construction Documents

Constructed in 2003 the Drew Mathieson Center is a horticulture training facility located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and provides over 25,000 square feet of greenhouse growing area within its 37,000 square foot facility. There had been few improvements undertaken over the last nineteen years and many elements of the greenhouses need major renovation. Construction was started in mid-2022 and will continue for the next two years and will include new glazing, new mechanical equipment, a new environmental control system and a new retail “Farm Market” production area and store.


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Chicago Botanic Garden – Mechanical Renovations

PROJECT: Critical and Long Range Needs Assessment
OWNER: Dumbarton Oaks/Harvard University
DATE: 2022
ARCHITECT: Todd Stevens
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Environmental Systems Consultant

This project was the start of a new master planning effort by the Chicago Botanic Garden, staff and architect Todd Stevens. All of the conservatory structures were inspected for all current physical and mechanical conditions. Also included in the report were schematic plans on how the exhibit spaces could be enlarged to provide twelve additional environmental zones.


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Longwood Gardens – New West Conservatory & Cascade Garden

PROJECT: Longwood Gardens West Conservatory
OWNER: Longwood Gardens
DATE: 2019 – 2023
ARCHITECT: Weiss Manfredi Architects
ARCHITECT: John Milner Architects
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Greenhouse Disassembly
Conservatory Consultant

Longwood Gardens masterplan included the design and construction of a new 32,000 square foot “West Conservatory” to be added to the existing complex. This new addition would require the removal and storage of the old production greenhouses and the removal and rebuilding of the current “Cascade Greenhouse” along with other site and garden changes and improvements. These projects are to open sometime in 2024.


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Belle Isle Conservatory – Glazing and Mechanical Replacements

PROJECT: Reglazing and Mechanical Systems Upgrades
OWNER: State of Michigan/City of Detroit
DATE: 2017 – 2022
ARCHITECT: G. H. Forbes, Associates
ENGINEER: RSE Associates
CONTRACTOR: Ideal Construction
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Needs Assessment
Construction Oversight

This iconic 1904 glass conservatory was in critical need of repairs, restoration and mechanical systems replacement. In 2017 the State of Michigan’s DNR took responsibility for the long-range repairs and improvements of this 14,000 square foot facility. Phase One of the process was to stabilize the structural components of the conservatory’s central dome building which was in a state of dangerous condition.
With Phase One completed in 2021, Phase Two started and involved the replacement of the complete glazing system and ventilation equipment. This work will commence in the Spring of 2023.


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Smithsonian, Botany Greenhouse – New Greenhouse

PROJECT: Smithsonian Botany Greenhouse Replacement
OWNER: Longwood Gardens
DATE: 2021 – 2023
ARCHITECT: Quinn Evans Architects
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Greenhouse Consultant
Environmental Controls Consultant

The existing Smithsonian Botany Research greenhouse was scheduled to be removed for expansion within the Smithsonian Gardens site and redesigned and rebuilt adjacent to the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) collections greenhouses. The new Botany Greenhouse and laboratories will be similar in scale to the existing complex with new office, laboratory and greenhouse compartment designs and updated environmental equipment and control systems.


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Desert Botanical Garden – New Shade Structures

PROJECT: New Shade Structure for Plant Storage
OWNER: Desert Botanical Gardens
DATE: 2022
ARCHITECT: coLab Studios
CONTRACTOR: 180 Degrees
Montgomery Smith, Inc.
Greenhouse Consultant

This project is the latest of several additions and replacements at the Desert Botanical Garden in the last eight years. With the severe climate in Phoenix, protection of the plant collections is critical and storage within greenhouse spaces is not feasible. This new shade structure will cover over 3,000 square feet, have sidewall protection and motor driven shade panels for adjustments in sunlight transmission levels.


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