Every square foot of your greenhouse matters. Benches are an important component of many greenhouse operations, but it is important that your benching improves your greenhouse functionality by maximizing growing space, rather than taking up valuable real estate.
Whether you are starting seedlings or displaying plants in your greenhouse, it is important to design a benching layout in a way that makes sense for your business. For garden centers, this means ensuring that your customers have enough room to navigate the aisles with their carts. For nurseries, you will want as much table space as possible for seedlings. And for schools, your bench layout must be ADA-compliant.
Here are three sample bench layouts to make the most effective use of your greenhouse space. These layouts are based on a standard 30’ x 48’ Rimol Nor’Easter greenhouse structure.
Layout 1: Longitudinal Benches
In this design, two 6’ x 48’ stationary benches are placed along each greenhouse side wall, and then two benches are placed in the middle aisle: one 6’ x 42’ bench, and one 3’ x 42’ bench, separated by a 3’ walking path. This allows for a 3’ walking path on all sides of the benches, which is the standard minimum aisle width to accommodate ADA regulations.
Bench space = 954 square feet
Greenhouse space used = 66.25%
Benching cost per square foot = $10.61
Layout 2: Peninsula Layout
A classic retail design, the peninsula layout has a 2’ walking path down the center, and six rows of 5’ x 13.5’ benches on either side of the greenhouse. Each of these six rows has a 3’ walking path in between them, with the final bench resting against the side wall.
Bench space = 810 square feet
Greenhouse space used = 56.25%
Benching cost per square foot = $11.42
Layout 3: Moveable Benches
A moveable bench layout is the best way to maximize your growing space, if you do not need as much space for retail customers to navigate the greenhouse. In this design, there is a 3’ walking path in the center, with twelve 5’ x 13.5’ rolling benches on either side. This allows for a moveable walking path of roughly 1.5’ between each bench, and about 1.5’ of extra space on one end wall.
Bench space = 1,215 square feet
Greenhouse space used = 84.38%
Benching cost per square foot = $11.78
At Rimol, we fabricate all of our greenhouse benches in-house and can design virtually any custom size or layout. Contact us today request a quote for your greenhouse benches!