Nature’s Classroom

Always working to promote healthy living, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has planted a seed with the debut of its sustainable, modular building.

Developed by the Sustainable Education Every Day (SEED) collaborative, the classroom provides healthy learning environments for children and blurs the line between indoor and outdoor environments. One of only two of its kind in the nation, the facility features non-toxic materials, generates its own energy, and recycles water on site. “Quite often, children are placed in some of the worst building environments,” says Richard V. Piacentini, executive director of Phipps.

“The SEED Classroom is a powerful model for demonstrating the importance of providing healthy places for children to learn.” We can’t wait to see the next step Phipps takes towards a future filled with wellness, beauty, and nature!

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1 Schenley Drive, Oakland. 412.622.6914. phipps.conservatory.org — Katie Piscopio