An engineered commercial greenhouse structure guarantees the quality, durability, and safety of your investment. Harnois’ certified engineers design every engineered commercial greenhouse to respect laws and regulations, resulting in an end product that meets the highest North American standards. Our in-house engineering team can modify building plans to adapt to your crops and commercial needs — and assign a dedicated engineer to your project from day one.
Discover why choosing a professionally engineered commercial greenhouse structure adds measurable value to your operation.
1. The Harnois Gothic-Arch Design
Harnois pioneered the gothic-shaped greenhouse design in North America — an engineered commercial greenhouse profile that delivers structural and agronomic advantages no round-arch structure can match.
Models Designed for Your Crops
Harnois engineers have developed four certified engineered commercial greenhouse models to meet the needs of the horticultural, commercial, and institutional sectors:
- TunnelPro Plus — Ideal for small fruits and open-field growers. Field berry producers increasingly rely on high-tunnel greenhouses to protect large crop areas from growing weather variability.
- Ovaltech™ — The most versatile and affordable freestanding greenhouse, allowing you to grow flowers, vegetables, and much more. Available in low-tech or automated (mid-tech) configurations. Approved by the NRCS – High Tunnel Initiative.
- Luminosa™ — A gutter-connected engineered commercial greenhouse with large surface area. Best suited for all crop types and high-volume production.
- Vermax — The Vermax Venlo greenhouse is engineered for growers who demand maximum light transmission, optimal climate control, and long-term energy efficiency. Built with premium steel and advanced glass technology, the Vermax is the benchmark engineered commercial greenhouse for high-yield production.
2. Structural Design: What Makes It Stronger
Every Harnois engineered commercial greenhouse structure features an improved gothic profile that offers measurable advantages:
Uniform covering tension for extended film lifespan
Optimal light penetration throughout the day
Superior air circulation, especially above the gutter
Uniform crop growth environment
Optimized structural load capacity — stronger with less steel
Water management: covering channels water directly to the ground, away from crops
Certified Steel & Oval Tubing Technology
Harnois engineered commercial greenhouse structures are built with graded certified steel — 52% stronger than standard commercial tubes. The exclusive oval tubing design delivers three key advantages over conventional round tubing:
- Greater resistance with smaller dimensions = a more powerful engineered structure requiring less material
- Wider arch spacing = more light, fewer shadow zones
- No edges = no friction points on the covering = longer covering lifespan
To understand how this compares, read our guide on oval tube vs. round tube greenhouse structures
3. Expansion-Ready Engineered Commercial Greenhouse
One of the most practical features of every Harnois engineered commercial greenhouse is the ability to expand your greenhouse complex after initial installation — without interrupting production.
Our engineers design each structure with your lot dimensions and future growth in mind, using variable bay widths to maximize usable square footage and provide crop-specific configuration flexibility.
Learn more about the expansion feature »
4. Integrated Equipment: Engineered Benches
Maximizing growing space is part of every engineered commercial greenhouse solution. Harnois designs and manufactures its own elevated benches — mobile or ground-anchored — in multiple lengths and custom configurations. Learn more about growing strawberries on elevated benches as a practical example of bench integration.
5. Building Code Compliance: Why It Matters
In many jurisdictions, your engineered commercial greenhouse must conform to building codes — particularly if customers or employees circulate inside (e.g., garden centers, institutional facilities).
In the United States, the International Building Code (IBC) — developed by the International Code Council and adopted in most states — requires that plans be approved and stamped by a licensed engineer.
Harnois in-house engineers perform all calculations and certify compliance across four critical areas:
- Structural safety — minimum load capacity for seismic, snow, wind, and rain based on your location
- Health — adequate ventilation systems
- Accessibility — compliant doors and emergency exits
- Fire protection — conformity with applicable fire safety standards
With 60+ years of experience designing and manufacturing engineered commercial greenhouse structures across North America, Harnois delivers structures that withstand extreme weather and comply with building codes in every U.S. state and Canadian province.
Ready to Build Your Engineered Commercial Greenhouse?
Our team is ready to evaluate your project, prepare certified plans, and assign a dedicated engineer to your build.
Contact us to discuss your project »
Also explore: How to build a commercial greenhouse from the ground up
