The rooftop of the Mitchell Physics Building houses a unique 10,000-square-foot sanctuary for butterflies and other insects, and for the humans who come to admire them. The only rooftop garden on campus, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Garden boasts an abundance of drought-resistant native Texas vines and fragrant floral plants which attract a diverse set of butterfly species.
The garden is supported by a permanent endowment established by George P. Mitchell. This space, along with the building’s other exterior landscapes, are irrigated by a cistern which collects and stores condensate and rainfall.