William H. Danforth Wing

Increasing impact in plant science

Danforth Plant Science Center Exterior4
This expansion project uniquely blends highly flexible interdisciplinary lab environments with biophilic design and community-centered spaces, strengthening scientific collaboration while reinforcing a deep connection between discovery and the natural environment.

Client
Danforth Plant Science
Location
Missouri, United States
Size
79,000 square feet
Status
Completed
LEED Gold

The William H. Danforth Research Wing of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center provides space for over 100 scientists who research plant biology, bioenergy and sustainable agriculture.

With a design that enables advanced scientific innovation, this expansion supports the center’s mission to "improve the human condition through plant science." In addition to providing highly functional and flexible research space, the project reinforces a sense of community, enhances collaboration, connects visitors with its science and profoundly grounds researchers in their natural environment.

Danforth Plant Science Center Exterior3
The new addition strengthens the scientific community, deepens donor engagement, expands high-level research capacity and helps attract top scientists to the center. A new circular auditorium anchors the outdoor plaza and garden.

The exterior of the expansion is a precisely crafted, simple volume comprised of terracotta and glass that relates to the original, iconic structure. It borrows the architectural genes of the original building, but reconfigures them in a way that is similar to — but distinct from — the original. Building volumes are configured to interweave with a new sustainable landscape, connecting scientists with their natural environment.

Danforth Plant Science Center Exterior5
Danforth Science
The north facade is open, taking advantage of daylight and views. Office space is expressed as a transparent glass prism "carved" from the more opaque terracotta mass.

The three-story addition links to the existing building via a new atrium. Highly efficient, flexible and open lab “neighborhoods” are directly connected to write-up spaces via glass partitions. Transparency also affords views into the labs from a public corridor, and opens views to native gardens and greenhouses on the upper floors. A main public concourse runs parallel to the main garden and links the atrium, first floor labs and auditorium. 

Danforth Plant Science Center Atrium
The three-story atrium connects the existing building to the new. The activities here bring the entire research community together in a central place.
Danforth Atrium
Level two of the atrium houses a coffee lounge.
Danforth Plant Science Center Lab1
Danforth Plant Science Center Lab3
Danforth Plant Science Center Lab2
Transparency and flexibility characterize the research environment.

Transforming the campus into a native habitat

Our team also led the landscape design for the project, transforming a 40-acre campus from a highly maintained commercial setting into a resilient system of native habitats that complement the surrounding buildings. More than six acres of Missouri tallgrass prairie replace manicured turf, alongside a native plant garden, integrated bioretention, a green roof and a restored water garden that together strengthen ecological performance while reinforcing a sense of community. Site circulation was also clarified through a reconfigured campus entry, new employee parking and improved pedestrian connections, seamlessly integrating building and landscape.

Danforth Garden
Scott Woodbury, Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve said “...the team has created one of, if not the most successful, tallgrass prairie landscapes in the St. Louis region."
Danforth Plant Science Center Exterior2
Danforth Water
Our landscape architects transformed an underused high-maintenance fountain basin into a native water garden, addressing both upkeep challenges and public perception. Today, the Kemper Water Garden serves as the aquatic counterpart to the surrounding prairie. The submerged planters have become habitats for frogs, insects and birds.

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