The D. C. Smith Greenhouse, completed in the fall of 1996, is the newest greenhouse facility of the UW Madison campus. The mission of the facility is to provide plant-growing space for the instructional needs of the departments and programs of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. These are primarily undergraduate classes. With 10,000 square feet under glass, the facility consists of 10 growing bays, a high humidity propagation bay, and a 1,600 square foot conservatory. Support space includes a large potting/class area and a chemical safety and storage facility.

The building is designed as a combination of science and aesthetics. It has won several architectural awards. The environment of the greenhouses is controlled by a state of the art computer system that allows users to program the environment to suit the needs of the plants and the class. This allows students and faculty to gain experience in real world greenhouse equipment and management. The conservatory is an example of the relatively new discipline of interiorscaping. Much like an outdoor garden, it emphasizes the ornamental function of plants while demonstrating the science of plant culture. The conservatory has won a major national award for design.

The building was named for David Clyde Smith, Professor of Agronomy, and chair of the Department of Agronomy from 1952 to 1971 when he retired. He studied the breeding and genetics of forage crops and co-authored a widely used text on plant breeding.

CALS departments using the facility include Agronomy, Forestry, Entomology, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology. Plants are grown for many purposes. Some are used for identification and plant culture demonstrations, while others are used directly by students in laboratory classes in plant propagation, plant disease inoculation, or feeding studies with insects. Additionally, biological control, or the management of plant pests with living organisms, is used extensively to demonstrate environmentally friendly methods of controlling pests.

The D. C. Smith Greenhouse is operated by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences through Agricultural Research Stations and CALS Greenhouse Committee. Faculty wishing to use space should contact the CALS Greenhouse Manager or the Instructional Greenhouse Manger to obtain the necessary documents. Space and supplies are generally free to authorized instructional users.

While primarily used by students and faculty, the greenhouse also offers tours and is open to the public during regular University building hours.