Designed and built by University of Oklahoma Design+Build students in partnership with Engage Learning, this project reimagines a greenhouse as a stacked, prefab plywood “cassette” system—assembled like LEGO bricks—and clad in dual-layer polycarbonate to serve as a hands-on educational grow lab for Crutcho Elementary School students.
Design & Construction Strategy
Using CNC milling and parametric modeling, the greenhouse components were precision-cut for easy assembly, creating a modular toolkit of structural boxes that interlock to form both the framework and functional interior elements like benches and shelving.
Educational Function & Spatial Experience
This grow lab doubles as a learning environment: the plywood structure is sturdy enough to support horticultural activity while maintaining clarity of construction logic. Its enveloping polycarbonate shell provides a controlled microclimate for year-round learning, allowing Crutcho students to engage directly with botany and agriculture through hands-on experimentation.
