The Southeastern Plant Laboratory, commonly known as the Phytotron, is a separate, four-story building located adjacent to Gardner Hall. This special laboratory, one of only three like it in the United States, is especially designed for research that deals with the response of biological organisms to their environment. Within the Phytotron, there are 52 environmental chambers ranging in size from "walk-in" rooms (2.44 X 3.66 X 2.13 m) to "reach-in" cabinets (0.91 X 1.22 X 1.22 m). Separate controls regulate temperature, moisture, photoperiod, and atmospheric gasses in each chamber, making it possible to duplicate any climate on earth from tropical rain forest to arid desert. Several germinators, incubators, photoperiod rooms, and air pollution chambers are also present in the building.

Research project priorities are determined by a committee consisting of representatives from the various CALS departments. Routine maintenance of the chambers and plant material is conducted by the Phytotron staff. The facilities are available for use by all research faculty, NCSU graduate students, and foreign or domestic visiting scientists. Entomology faculty and students can often be spotted using the Phytotron.

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