The University of Guelph will soon begin work to install a commemorative garden in the space currently occupied by the DM Rutherford Family Conservatory.

The Conservatory has been closed to the public since November 2023 due to significant safety concerns posed by widespread wood rot, which has resulted from the building’s consistently high humidity levels and temperature differences between its interior and exterior. The University commissioned multiple independent assessments, which determined an extensive rebuild would be necessary, estimating the cost to be over $5 million with annualized maintenance of $200,000 to $250,000.

U of G is dedicated to preserving its rich history and heritage buildings that support our academic and research mission. However, while the Conservatory has become a beloved building on campus, it stopped serving an educational or research purpose over 15 years ago. As the University is in a multi-year operational deficit and needs to strategically transform to support its core mission, it cannot dedicate the resources required to keep the Conservatory as it stands today.

Methodical deconstruction will help salvage materials

Structural engineers have advised the University that there is an urgent need to dismantle parts of the Conservatory before winter weather sets in to ensure the safety of our community. This work is expected to commence soon and will be guided by a conservation plan that ensures salvageable steel, limestone and any other materials that could be reused are stored and preserved. U of G is working with a Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals-certified engineer to oversee this work and determine what materials can and cannot be saved.

In early 2025, U of G plans to launch a design competition for Landscape Architecture students to help create the commemorative garden, which will give students an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the University’s history and shape the future of the site. Students will be asked to honour the legacy of the Conservatory and re-use materials in their proposed designs where possible, including a requirement to incorporate some quantity of the salvageable steel.

U of G is dedicated to preserving the spirit of the Conservatory by maintaining a public commemorative garden that both highlights the University’s rich contributions to horticulture and remains accessible to the community.

“These decisions have not been taken lightly and have been carefully reviewed in consideration of different potential options for the site,” says Harry Bakker, associate vice-president (physical resources). “We’re confident that our path forward with the commemorative garden will ensure the Conservatory’s next life cycle is reflective of its history on campus.”

For more information and to see updates on U of G’s progress, visit the Conservatory webpage.