The College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and UC Riverside as a whole, traces its roots to 1907, and the founding of the Citrus Experiment Station at Riverside. This proposal for a new 40,000 sf greenhouse and research facility looks at state-of-the-art technology and design to take UC Riverside into the next stage of agricultural research, while honoring its agricultural roots.

The overall form is informed by both symbolism and function. As depicted in the diagrams on the left, the building can evoke grain silos, sprouting plants, and the Box Spring Mountain nearby. The brick facade of the ground floor expresses the earth, while the glass and metal structure of the second floor expresses air and light. The butterfly roofs help capture rainwater, while also allowing for rising hot air to vent.

Fabric shades modulate the sunlight. They are positioned on top of the roofs, over mechanical tracks, and their percentages of cover can be controlled remotely.