In Salt Lake City, Utah, construction is underway for what will become an exciting new hands-on learning space for students and other community members to uncover mysteries of the natural world. Tracy Aviary, an organization focused on conservation science and community engagement, is partnering with Ceres Greenhouse Solutions to bring a greenhouse project to life that will support habitat preservation and native plant restoration efforts at Tracy Aviary’s second bird sanctuary location: The Nature Center at Pia Okwai.
The Nature Center at Pia Okwai is different from Tracy Aviary’s original bird exhibit in Liberty Park in that its main purpose is to build and maintain habitats with native plants in order to bring more wild birds to the area. At Pia Okwai there are acres of green spaces for visitors to connect with nature and explore an oasis in the middle of the city, along the Jordan river corridor.
The year-round greenhouse is just one piece of a grander project of building an eco learning lab at Pia Okwai to support greater conservation efforts of the surrounding green space. Matthew Utley, Director of Operations at Tracy Aviary, had this to say about the new project:
The Bobo Eco Lab will be a dynamic, hands-on learning space where students of all ages explore STEAM concepts through real-world, nature-based experiments. Featuring wet labs, a greenhouse, and natural maker-space elements, the Bobo Eco Lab will engage learners in projects involving soil, light, water, and native plants. Activities range from simple elementary experiments to advanced explorations uncovering mysteries of the natural world. Educators will benefit from professional development workshops, while neighbors and partners will participate in community science—collecting seeds, growing native plants, and restoring habitats. Ultimately, the Bobo Eco Lab fosters learning, community building, and ecological restoration along the Jordan River corridor.
Although the greenhouse is just one component of the learning lab, it could be considered the heart of the project—providing a central space for year-round growing and gathering. The greenhouse will serve many purposes, including horticulture therapy, nature play, seed starting, overwintering plants, and hands-on conservation education through the cultivation of native species for site-wide planting. It will also be a hub for growing unique plant specimens and hosting fun, exploratory plant-based experiments designed especially for kids.
The 966 sq ft greenhouse will showcase a single sloped passive solar design and will include a Ceres SunSense™ controller that will automate mechanical systems and climate control technologies such as the GAHT® (ground to air heat transfer) system – a geothermal system that regulates the temperature inside the greenhouse using the earth underground. This energy-efficient greenhouse will allow Tracy Aviary to run programs year-round and will support their mission of positive environmental impact.
The greenhouse is projected to be completed by the end of 2025 with the Eco Learning Lab being completed shortly after in the Spring of 2026. Visit Tracy Aviary’s website to learn more about their learning programs and visiting opportunities. And if you’re interested in an energy-efficient greenhouse for your community, contact Ceres Greenhouse Solutions today.
