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The Ahearn Desert Conservation Laboratory is part of the Phase II master plan at the Desert Botanical Garden. The lab rests behind the gabion wall constructed in Phase I and is an herbarium for desert plants, a lab for soil ecology research and a workshop for seed preservation efforts.

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The architecture features biophillic design principals with the exterior of the lab's use of a vented air-gap that dramatically reduces heat transfer, ensuring the interior temperatures are consistent and maintained year-round. Exterior panels near the entryway are laser-cut with a pattern inspired by the skeletal remains of the prickly pear cactus.

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To minimize waste, wood salvaged from the Garden's campus was used as window details. Additionally, the lab features five large cisterns to collect and provide rainwater to the surrounding landscape.