The Matthaei Botanical Gardens Greenhouse, located just east of Ann Arbor, is a vital part of the University of Michigan’s living plant collections, housing diverse ecosystems from tropical rainforests to arid deserts. In collaboration with Matthaei staff and curators, EIPC undertook a comprehensive scan of the greenhouse complex, capturing the intricate spatial organization and unique environmental conditions that define this botanical infrastructure.

The scanning process posed distinct technical challenges. Unlike typical architectural spaces, greenhouses are filled with dense plant life, variable humidity, and glass enclosures, all of which interfere with traditional LiDAR scanning techniques. Glass in particular, due to its transparent and reflective qualities, complicates spatial registration by scattering or absorbing the laser signal. To overcome these limitations, EIPC developed a hybrid workflow combining LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, and manual point cloud clean-up to create a usable and richly detailed digital model.

The Matthaei scan offers students and researchers an opportunity to study the intersection of built and ecological systems. It invites deeper reflection on how architecture can frame, facilitate, and even coexist with living environments, advancing both design literacy and environmental awareness through immersive digital documentation.