SEED Classroom

  • SEED Classroom Drawing

    SEED Classroom Drawing

  • Seed Classroom

    Seed Classroom

    The Seed Building at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburg, PA

  • Seed Classroom

    Seed Classroom

    The inside of the SEED Classroom at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburg, PA.

  • SEED Classroom

    SEED Classroom

    The SEED Building at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburg, PA.

  • Seed Classroom

    Seed Classroom

    The project will have two parts. First part is the area within the existing fenced area, where the SEED Classroom will be located. The other part is to clear the old gravel parking area outside of the fence and turn it into a community garden and a meadow area.

  • Seed Classroom

    Seed Classroom

    Future Site of the SEED Classroom, currently the old maintenance yard.

Meeting the Community Need

More than 35,000 people pass through the Black Hill Visitor Center every year. In 2015, the number of people attending our programs doubled. Our 25-person auditorium has quickly fallen short of demand. As the Cabin Branch Neighborhood of 1,886 homes is built across the street, the need for additional programming space is expected to only become greater. We must act now to accommodate our growing community.

Making the Old New

For years, the park’s old maintenance yard has sat unused, its buildings neglected. Now we have an opportunity to give this centrally-located area a new life by building a green classroom space. Pavement will be removed over time to create green space for gardens and nature play. Programs will have the yard’s convenient access to hiking trails, a stream, and the greenhouse. By choosing the yard, we can also make use of the site’s flat topography and existing asphalt pad, which will greatly reduce the costs of site development.

Inspiring through Innovative Design

 A SEED (Sustainable Education Every Day) classroom is a sustainable, modular learning space that encourages creative education through the building’s living and technical components. For example, the SEED Classroom is net-zero water and net zero energy and will allow students to track energy production and rainwater collection.  Our new classroom will provide an example of how people can learn in comfortable and beautiful spaces that are healthy for both us and the environment. The SEED Classroom will create space for a park-based nature preschool program. The nature programs will also be able to offer more school field trips and private and public events.

Our Goal

We are currently in the quiet phase of a capital campaign to raise $550,000 for the SEED Classroom and the renovation of the surrounding lot. Montgomery Parks has a Capital Improvement Plan in place to match these funds to complete the project. We have already received generous support from Wegmans, Friends of Ten Mile Creek, Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs, Green Mountain Energy and Direct Energy. Planning and design work have started on this project.

If you want to know more details or donate to this wonderful project, contact the Montgomery Parks Foundation.

Last Updated: January 24, 2023