Earlier this week, crews began preparatory work for the careful deconstruction of the DM Rutherford Family Conservatory.  

Deconstruction will begin in the coming days and will proceed in alignment with plans approved by City Council on Dec.10, 2024. This work is expected to take approximately four to six weeks and is the first step in realizing the next life cycle of the Conservatory through the creation of a commemorative garden.   

More information about the deconstruction plan and the current safety concerns regarding the Conservatory is available in a previous update and on the Conservatory webpage

Next steps for building a commemorative garden 

As previously communicated, the University will rely on the expertise and talent of our world-class landscape architecture program by engaging students in the design of the commemorative garden.  

Led by students, the discovery phase of this process will take place this winter and spring and will include an opportunity for the University and broader community to share their input, memories and stories to help inform the brief for the design competition.  

The student design competition will launch in the fall 2025 semester. Elements of the top three student designs will be used by a consultant team as the basis for the final design of the commemorative garden, expected to be completed in spring 2026. 

Construction of the garden is expected to take place in summer 2026.  All dates are subject to change.  

Additional details of each phase of the commemorative garden build will be posted to the Conservatory website.   

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