Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

40°26′20″N 79°56′52″W / 40.438948°N 79.947705°W / 40.438948; -79.947705

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Main entrance to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
LocationPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Area15 acres
Built1893
ArchitectLord & Burnham
Architectural styleVictorian greenhouse
NRHP reference No.76001598[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1976
Designated CPHSDecember 26, 1972[2]
Designated PHLF1970[3]

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden set in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a City of Pittsburgh historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

The gardens were founded in 1893 by steel and real-estate magnate Henry Phipps Jr. as a gift to the City of Pittsburgh. Its purpose is to educate and entertain the people of Pittsburgh with formal gardens (Roman, English, etc.) and various species of exotic plants (palm trees, succulents, bonsai, orchids, etc.). Currently, the facilities house elaborate gardens within the fourteen room conservatory itself and on the adjoining grounds. In addition to its primary flora exhibits, the sophisticated glass and metalwork of the Lord & Burnham conservatory offers an interesting example of Victorian greenhouse architecture.

Phipps is one of the "greenest" facilities in the world.[5] The entrance pavilion of the Phipps Conservatory has silver-level LEED certification.[6] Its greenhouse production facility has received Platinum certification, the first and only greenhouse to be so certified.[7] Moreover, the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, designed to be as environmentally sustainable as possible, is also LEED Platinum certified, and produces all of its own energy.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 15, 2006.
  2. ^ "Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation: Local Historic Designations". 2002-05-01. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  3. ^ "Internet Archive: Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation: PHLF Plaques & Registries". 2007-01-27. Archived from the original on 2007-01-27. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  4. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Phipps Conservatory" (PDF). 1976. Retrieved 2010-06-08. [dead link]
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference sustainablelandscapes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden". U.S. Green Building Council. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  7. ^ Raulerson, Josh (July 5, 2012). "Phipps Production Greenhouse Attains LEED Platinum". WESA.fm. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2012.