On April 21, 2015, George Mason University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Presidents Park Hydroponic Greenhouse, a ceremony led by Tom Calhoun, then vice president of Facilities, and the Board of Visitors member Buddy Beck.
Mason students, staff and faculty got their first looks at the newly renovated greenhouse that was part of Mason's push toward improved sustainability. Dishes created with produce grown at the greenhouse were served at the celebration.
In an agreement between Mason’s Office of Sustainability and Mason Dining, the greenhouse was expected to provide some 200 pounds of food to Ike’s and for catered university events, in exchange for funding of a part-time greenhouse staff position.
Before its rebirth as a food producer, the greenhouse was used to grow plants for biology and ecology experiments conducted by classes in the College of Science, which moved to a new greenhouse atop Exploratory Hall.
Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services