WKU greenhouse slated for demolition
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Students in the Horticulture Club at Western Kentucky University say a campus greenhouse used for decades is now facing demolition.
University officials plan to remove several buildings, including the greenhouse, to make room for a new academic complex as part of a larger campus redevelopment project set to move forward this semester.
Club President, Meara Wilcox, a senior environmental science major, says members were surprised to learn about the possible demolition. She says fencing was placed around the greenhouse before many in the department were formally notified.
Wilcox says the greenhouse is used every week. The club meets there on Mondays. Classes and independent research students also use the space several times a week. She says the greenhouse provides hands-on learning opportunities that students cannot get in a traditional classroom.
The club has been active for more than 25 years. Wilcox says the space allows students to practice plant propagation, conduct research, and host plant sales that help fund the organization.
Vice President Maya Beckmann says the club welcomes students from all majors and helps build community across campus. She says members are concerned about losing a space that brings students together.
Students say they hope the university will delay demolition and work toward a solution that preserves greenhouse space for future generations.
University officials say they are communicating with college leadership about next steps. A revised demolition timeline has not been publicly announced.
