The College of Western Idaho’s Agricultural Sciences Complex is a 35-acre campus dedicated to hands-on education in horticulture, landscape design, floral science, and animal science. Located in Nampa, the site includes an animal science barn, horticulture greenhouse, shop, student-designed arboretum, and the Simplot Agriculture Building, which houses classrooms, labs, offices, and collaboration spaces.
Situated north of the main campus on former agricultural land, the site honors its history through landscape details such as tractor tread patterns and planting beds inspired by crop circles. The complex functions as part working farm, part classroom, and part food incubator, allowing students to experience the full cycle of agricultural education. A public-facing farm store lets students sell products and host farm-to-table events, connecting learning to real-world applications.
Flexible design supports evolving programs and student needs. Glass overhead doors open classrooms to the outdoors, movable partitions adjust space for different uses, and covered porches provide collaboration areas. Biophilic elements, including wood accents, seed-inspired lighting, and tree canopy-inspired baffles, reinforce connections to nature and support future experiential learning such as living walls and pollinator habitats.
The facility balances academic function with public engagement, integrating classrooms, labs, and community spaces into a cohesive agricultural learning environment.
