Greenwood Heights

Green-Wood Visitor Center Rises Around Weir Greenhouse in Greenwood Heights

A glimpse through the windows of the construction fence revealed construction is under way on the long-awaited structure.

the historic greenhouse at the corner of 25th street and 5th avenue with a construction fence surrounding it

The site last week. Photo by Susan De Vries

by Susan De Vries

04/22/2024 0

A stroll past the historic Weir Greenhouse last week showed construction is under way for the long-awaited Green-Wood Visitor Center.

While much of the the work isn’t visible from the street, a glimpse through the windows of the construction fence revealed workers on site, foundations in place, and concrete walls starting to climb above the ground.

concrete walls — A view from 25th Street shows the foundations in place

bracing against an adjoining building — Bracing in place for the 5th Avenue building adjacent to the site

The recently restored greenhouse at the corner of 25th Street and 5th Avenue will be the centerpiece for a sleek design by Architecture Research Office. The new building at 749 5th Avenue, clad in terra-cotta panels, will wrap around two sides of the greenhouse and include gallery, programming, and staff space.

While the restoration of the greenhouse was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission back in 2015, the final design for the visitor complex wasn’t approved until 2021. The fence around the now-gleaming greenhouse came down temporarily last summer as preparation for construction began.

construction workers on site — A look through a grimy construction window revealed workers on site

glimpse through the construction fence to a concrete wall — Concrete rises along 25th Street

The timeline for the project projected construction was to begin in March of this year and it appears the prediction is on target. The Green-Wood Center, as the entire complex will be known, is slated to open in the spring of 2025.

The historic Green-Wood Cemetery is working to raise $34 million for the construction of the new complex. The organization had already raised $18 million from state, federal, and other funders by last fall when an additional $500,000 in state funds was allocated to the project.