Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia

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Project Overview

The Australian PlantBank is a 3000 m2 research facility to be built over a three year period in South Western Sydney at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.

Ten percent of plant species in New South Wales are in immediate danger of extinction with many more under threat in the next few years. PlantBank will address the need for a holistic approach to understanding species, species interactions and the processes that threaten ecosystems. The Trust’s seed repository, the NSW Seedbank, will be the nucleus of PlantBank. The Seedbank represents the largest collection of Australian native seed in Australia and plays an important role in contributing to global targets for the preservation of species.

PlantBank will incorporate modern world-class research laboratories, seed storage facilities, climate controlled glasshouse infrastructure and specialised teaching laboratories. The facilities at PlantBank will complement those associated with the National Herbarium of New South Wales at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. PlantBank will accommodate 50 research staff, students and local and international collaborative researchers at any one time. The interactive educational space will host several hundred students and visitors simultaneously. PlantBank is envisaged as a leading institution for education in plant science. It will invigorate the visitor experience through interactions with research findings and scientists giving valuable information on the important role of plants in our lives.

As a structure, PlantBank is designed as a model of efficient sustainable design and implementation and Seedbank facilities will be designed and constructed for thermal efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

Corymbia eximia
Fruit of Corymbia eximia

Leah in freezer
Seed collections stored in foil packets in the freezer

 

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