Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery has unveiled the 'Green-House,' a $34m welcome and education center centered around a meticulously restored 1895 Victorian cast-iron greenhouse. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO), the facility includes classrooms, research archives, and dedicated gallery spaces. The project transforms a formerly dilapidated commercial florist shop into a modern gateway that connects the 478-acre National Historic Landmark to its surrounding urban neighborhood.
This expansion is significant as it provides a permanent exhibition space for the Green-Wood Historic Fund’s extensive art collection, which includes works by major American artists like George Bellows and William Merritt Chase. By moving institutional functions 'outside the gates,' the cemetery aims to lower the barrier for public engagement, transitioning from a traditional burial ground into a multifaceted cultural institution that balances historic preservation with active community programming.