Earn 1.0 LU | HSW
Presented by Committee on Design
Opened in 1895, the Franklin Park Conservatory John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse are among the few surviving Victorian glasshouses of their kind in the United States. Located within Columbus’s historic Franklin Park, the Conservatory was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and has continuously served its original purpose as a place for the cultivation, display, and public enjoyment of plants for more than 130 years.
The rehabilitation re-establishes the landmark John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse as the centerpiece of the Conservatory while balancing historic preservation, accessibility, horticultural performance, visitor experience, and long-term stewardship. Conceived as both a restoration and a reimagining of the visitor experience, the project renews the historic envelope, modernizes aging infrastructure, and reorganizes circulation to provide greater engagement with the plant collections. New canopy-level experiences expanded planting areas, flexible exhibit opportunities, and improved accessibility support the Conservatory’s mission while remaining consistent with the original Victorian ambition to immerse visitors in environments defined by light, height, and tropical vegetation.
Victorian glasshouses were remarkable feats of engineering, designed to create ideal growing conditions for exotic plant collections while inspiring visitors with spaces of unprecedented scale and transparency. Over time, aging infrastructure, accessibility limitations, and operational challenges diminished the ability of the John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse to fully realize that vision. The rehabilitation restores the architectural clarity of these historic spaces while adapting them to meet contemporary expectations for access, flexibility, environmental performance, and year-round public use.
The project includes comprehensive exterior and interior improvements to the historic portions of the Conservatory, including restoration of the original building envelope, rehabilitation of the John F. Wolfe Palm House interior, improvements to the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse, and upgrades to associated building systems. Limited site work introduces accessible routes to the John F. Wolfe Palm House and reestablishes the historic west entry as a primary point of arrival.
Exterior improvements include complete replacement of the John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse glazing systems, replacing non-historic assemblies with new glass that replicates the historic character and appearance of the original Victorian glasshouse. The glazing design was a critical component of the rehabilitation, requiring a careful balance between historic preservation, horticultural performance, visitor comfort, and artistic intent. The selected system maximizes daylight transmission necessary to support the Conservatory’s living collections while reducing solar heat gain that previously contributed to seasonal discomfort and operational challenges. At the same time, the glazing preserves the transparency and visual lightness that defines the historic structure and provides the environmental conditions necessary for the renewed presentation of James Turrell’s Light Raiment II installation. The result is a high-performance enclosure that enhances the experience of plants, visitors, and artwork while remaining faithful to the character of the National Register-listed landmark.
Within the John F. Wolfe Palm House, the visitor experience has been reimagined around greater immersion in the historic collection. Existing stairs, ramps, and landings are replaced with a more cohesive circulation system anchored by a new elevated bridge. Rather than serving solely as a connection, the bridge introduces a canopy-level experience that alternates between expansive views of the conservatory and close engagement with the tropical plant collection. To support this intervention, the John F. Wolfe Palm House floor was lowered, increasing planting depth, improving circulation, and creating generous clearance beneath the bridge while maintaining access to support spaces. Expanded planting areas and flexible display opportunities reinforce the Conservatory’s commitment to horticultural education while making the plants themselves the focus of the space.
Both the John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse have been redesigned to better support both seasonal exhibits and year-round botanical displays. A more robust and permanent planting framework provides greater opportunities for horticultural expression while maintaining flexibility for changing exhibitions, educational programming, and special events. New focal elements, enhanced planting opportunities, and renewed circulation create a stronger spatial framework that accommodates a wider range of uses while reducing the operational constraints of previous layouts. Together, the John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse form a cohesive visitor experience connected by curvilinear planting forms, improved circulation, and renewed visual relationships between spaces.
Accessibility is a central project objective. The rehabilitation creates barrier-free connections between the John F. Wolfe Palm House, Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse, and exterior arrival areas, ensuring visitors can experience both lower- and upper-level environments throughout the historic complex. These interventions are designed to be compatible with the character-defining features of the landmark structure while providing equitable access to areas that were previously difficult or impossible to reach.
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are comprehensively upgraded to support the long-term care of both the building and its living collections. New infrastructure is carefully integrated within the historic fabric, with systems concealed wherever feasible to minimize visual impact and preserve the character of the interior spaces. The project also renews James Turrell’s Light Raiment II installation through the replacement of aging lighting technology, restoring the artwork’s intended visual effect while bringing it into alignment with contemporary performance standards.
By restoring the architectural significance of the John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse while expanding opportunities for education, exhibition, and public engagement, the rehabilitation prepares one of the nation’s rare surviving Victorian glasshouses for its next century of service. Beyond enhancing the daily visitor experience, the project strengthens the Conservatory’s long-term stewardship model by reducing maintenance demands, improving operational efficiency, providing healthier growing conditions for plant collections, and increasing flexibility for revenue-generating events. The project recognizes that preservation of a living historic glasshouse depends not only on protecting its architectural character but also on ensuring its continued usefulness and financial sustainability. Through the careful integration of preservation, horticulture, accessibility, and operational improvements, the rehabilitation secures the future of a National Register-listed landmark while reaffirming its role as both a botanical institution and a civic resource.
The Design Architect is AECOM.
AIA Members / Allied Members / NOMA members (Licensed): $10
Assoc. AIA Members / Students / NOMA Members (Unlicensed): $5
Non-Members: $30