Glass Removed from the Showhouse and Palm House to be Recycled

Posted: July 23, 2026

Work on the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse and the John F. Wolfe Palm House continues with a focus on the delicate process of removing glass. And that’s A LOT of glass.  

In the planning stages of construction, it was important to the Conservatory to keep sustainability top of mind. Long-time partners, Miles-McCellan (Construction manager) and Prospiant (subcontractor, specializing in glass removal and glazing) were very helpful in ensuring demolition debris was diverted from landfills. Finding assistance for recycling glass proved to be a small challenge, but then we found a company in Minnesota called Infinite Recycled Technologies.  

Windowpane glass is not typically recycled because it has a completely different chemical make-up and melting point than the glass used to make bottles. Most architectural glass windowpanes are treated with UV-blocking chemicals, tinting and metallic oxides, and/or have a lamination film between two panes of glass which is difficult to remove.   

By partnering with Infinite Recycled Technologies, the Conservatory estimates it will save approximately 87,000 pounds of glass from going into the local landfill.