Construction begins for new WSU Plant Growth Facility

Years in the making, the new Plant Growth Facility at Washington State University's Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC) began construction April 1.

The WSU Board of Regents greenlit construction in March of a final design fine-tuned by scientists and architects to support current and future tree fruit research needs.

Construction of the $18 million, 24,000-square-footfacility is expected to wrap up in a year, with an opening planned for summer 2027.

"It's going to be very exciting to see it take shape," said Lee Kalcsits, endowed chair and programmatic lead at TFREC. "As people see it grow, they'll really start to understand the capabilities it's going to bring."

Replacing 70-year-oldgreenhouses, the new building was designed to meet critical space and environmental needs for plant growth and scientific experiments.

"It crosses a lot of items off our long-term needs list," Kalcsits said.

Controlled environments are one of TFREC's biggest needs. In the new design, two wings of planned greenhouse space with 20 compartments, totaling about 9,000 square feet, will let researchers control lighting, temperature, and CO2 levels. That level of control will help researchers more quickly develop ways to help trees withstand heat, cold, drought, pests, and diseases.

Similarly, other new workspaces and laboratories built into the design, including a 2,150-square-footclean microbiology lab space as well as several rooms for DNA-based experiments, create the necessary infrastructure for new projects.

"This will help us do more of the kinds of advanced molecular work that we haven't been able to tackle until now," Kalcsits said.

Supporting the greenhouses, a roomy new headhouse offers a large working area with support facilities and an attached 1,500-square-footarea for growth chambers.

"It'll be a really nice, open, well-planned space to set up our greenhouse experiments," Kalcsits said.

Along with a common area and administrative space, the Plant Growth Facility will also include an 80-personcapacity conference area, where WSU scientists can host conferences to educate industry members and share discoveries. The space will be 40% larger than the biggest existing meeting space at TFREC.

In developing the building, Flad Architects and Absher Construction, the design-build team selected in fall 2025, blended thoughtful design with hands-onexpertise to create spaces that support collaboration and innovation, said Kimi Lucas, director of operations for CAHNRS.

"Made in partnership with TFREC researchers, the final design reflects a commitment to advancing state-of-the-art research environments and a genuine connection to the state's tree fruit agricultural community - dedication and attention to detail that ultimately bring the university's vision to life," she said.

The Plant Growth Facility will be used throughout the year by researchers from eight different WSU programs, including breeding, tree and environmental physiology, pests and diseases, and tree fruit Extension. Two U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists engaged in whole-plant research, pear genetics, and plant pathology will also utilize the space.

I can't thank enough our industry partners, who made this possible. They help guide our priorities for research that ultimately benefits Washington agriculture.

Construction is supported by a $10 million allocation from the Washington State Legislature's 2025-27 capital budget. The Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute, AgWest Farm Credit, Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Yakima POM Club, Mike and Kathy Hambelton, Rainier Fruit Company, H.R. Spinner, Stemilt Growers, and other industry partners have pledged more than $1.7 million to aid the project. The remaining costs of construction will be supported by royalties from WSU's Cosmic Crisp® apple variety, WA 38.

The new building will catapult WSU into a new era of state-of-the-art infrastructure, enabling the development of future fruit varieties beyond the new Sunflare^TM apple, said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

"It positions us to sustain and strengthen our national and global leadership in the tree fruit industry," Khosla said. "I can't thank enough our industry partners, who made this possible. They help guide our priorities for research that ultimately benefits Washington agriculture. This building is their investment in the future of tree fruit. On behalf of our entire institution, I am deeply grateful for their support."

A topping-off ceremony, which traditionally celebrates the placement of the final beam in a building's construction, is envisioned for fall 2026, about halfway through construction.

As designed, the new facility footprint allows for future expansion.

"It will meet our current needs and also help us prepare for future goals," Kalcsits said.