Enid A. Haupt Conservatory ca. 1978

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is perhaps the crown jewel of the New York Botanical Garden. It was key to the garden's initial mission to further " the collection of and culture of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees, the advancement of botanical science and knowledge." The greenhouse was a relatively new typology, so the Botanical Garden hired the best architects of the type, Lord and Burnham Co., as its designers.

The Haupt Conservatory was designed in the Italian Renaissance style. Portions of this crystal palace are renovated approximately every 20 years in order to ensure that the plants inside are taken care of with the most advanced technology. The high temperature and humidity of the tropical biomes cause the steel and glass structure to constantly expand, contract, and rust. Some of the more notable renovations occurred between 1935 and 1950 when much of the ornate decoration was removed in favor of a modernist look. Most recently, the Palm Dome has undergone structural stabilization and lead-based coating removal by Beyer Blinder Belle in 1973 and Jan Hird Pokorny Associates in 2019.

The Conservatory is comprised of 11 biomes. The biomes, each contained under a dome, form a C-shape around the Palm Dome, the largest in the center. Interconnecting pavilions connect tropical plants, desert flora, fern forests, and seasonal exhibits to one another.

The conservatory is still a major resource for the international study of horticulture, drawing hundreds of scientists a year. Built during an era where greenhouses were primarily an accessory of the elite, the New York Botanical Garden's conservatory enabled New Yorkers of all backgrounds to experience the flora and fauna of faraway lands.