Greenhouse Design

All Ceres greenhouses include our patented passive solar design, harvesting sunlight as their primary energy source—for both plant growth and the structure’s overall energy needs. Unlike most greenhouse companies, we don’t offer generic, prebuilt structures that you have to adapt your needs to. Instead, we work with you to design a greenhouse specifically tailored to your goals, ensuring it’s built around your vision—not the other way around.

Based on the size of your project and the systems it requires, we’ll determine whether it follows a “simple” or “complex” greenhouse design path.

Complex, Custom or Sealed Greenhouse Design Steps

Conceptual Design

Our team will work with the client to form the broad ideas and general form of the project. We focus on visualizing the overall concept, exploring possibilities, and laying the groundwork for Schematic Design.

Design Development (DD)

During DD, the ideas that were generated during SD are refined and developed in greater detail and specificity, including all project engineering (Structural, MEP, Civil, etc) and initial supplier shop drawings coordination.

Bid Process/Permitting

We will work with the client (and their architect) to help administer the bid process and navigate the local planning department.

Schematic Design (SD)

We collaborate with you to define goals, constraints, structural & environmental loads, system requirements, timeline, and budget. By the end of SD, we’ll understand the project’s overall size, integrated systems, and design strategy to move confidently into the next phase.

Construction Documents

Final Construction Documents are compiled, including all consultant and supplier drawing sets and shop drawings, and the Project Manual is finalized.

Construction Administration (CA)

Once construction begins, we shift to overseeing the project, ensuring it is built according to the greenhouse design, including: coordinating with client & GC, site visits, inspections, and addressing issues that arise during the build.

Simple And/Or Vented Greenhouse Design Steps

3D Design Contract

Our design team sizes all systems, locates all materials, equipment, and openings, and produces a final 3D contract for the client to review and sign off on.

Construction Support

During construction, a Ceres Greenhouse Project Manager will coordinate all material shipments and will be available to answer all questions/ issues that arise during the build, after which a PM will guide the client/ GC through a building commissioning process.

Construction Documents

We coordinate with structural and mechanical consultants to finalize the design, producing a complete set of construction drawings, install guides, and specification sheets needed to erect the greenhouse.