Plant Industry Building

The Plant Industry building is situated on the East Campus mall, north of the Agricultural Experiment Station. Plant Industry was dedicated on June 10th, 1913. The building was the fourth large and permanent structure located on the Mall, and was designed by Charles E Chowins, Superintendent of Construction for the University. Chowins was paid $300, in addition to his regular salary, for his work designing this building.

Plant Industry is constructed with Omaha grey pressed brick, limestone trimmings, a slate roof, and a reinforced concrete floor. These materials are nearly identical to materials used on Agriculture Hall and the Home Economics Building, which were located directed west of Plant Industry. Plant Industry replaced a modest frame structure and greenhouse called the Horticulture Building. With the completion of the Plant Industry building the Mall became a balanced and formal space on the campus, lending the farm a sense of importance and academic seriousness that it lacked in its early years.

Plant Industry is a large rectangular structure with a projecting full height pediment supported by ionic columns. The first story has arched windows and brick pillars supporting a shallow decorative balcony. Columns rise from the balcony to support the pediment. "Plant Industry" is inscribed in the masonry over the west entry. The exterior of Plant Industry has changed very little since its construction, however, a fire in 1975 caused extensive damage to the interior, and the subsequent renovation was not in keeping with the historic exterior.

Plant Industry has remained home to various plant related programs since its construction nearly a century ago. Horticulture, agricultural botany and entomology were originally housed in Plant Industry, as they are today.