DHS Vivarium

Written by Richie Auerbach (Class of 2023)

Upon initial construction of Deerfield High School in 1959, the Vivarium was a unique academic feature that focused on interactive biology learning and tactile nature experiences. Very similar to a greenhouse, the Vivarium was a steel-framed room with a glass ceiling in the original center of the school. For many decades, the Vivarium consisted of ponds, plants, and various animal species including turtles, birds, frogs, and lizards. Nearly all science classrooms had direct access to the Vivarium. Eventually, due to rising enrollment and the difficulty to maintain, Deerfield High School began converting the space into additional classrooms in the late 1990s by boarding up the transparent roof and adding joists to elevate the floor. Although the Vivarium no longer exists, the legacy and steel-frame remnants are able to be seen in the current J109 and J111 classrooms. Additionally, following the deconstruction of the Vivarium, classroom G106 houses a crawl space leading to the original concrete slabs present in the Vivarium, and an insight into the original placement of its features. Overall, the Vivarium was seen as "ahead of its time" in the world of school biology and many argue it should still exist today.