ADDISON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HUB

In my first studio architecture class, (Spring 2015) I was asked to design a "Food Hub" for Addison County on a site behind Middlebury College. This project is a collaborative effort between myself and classmate Ben Rose. 

A foodhub as defined by the USDA, is “a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products.”

This of course demands that the design serves and integrates of variety of functions under the same roof. We feel our design fully addresses this challenge by creating contentious program that groups spaces according to the production chain, and the design also utilizes and responds to the unique natural environment of the Vermont landscape.

The site of our proposed building design is an area of land adjacent to the Middlebury College Organic Farm. We intentionally placed our building so that it would be easily accessible from the road for customer vehicle traffic and processing and shipping logistics. The building is positioned to take advantage of the morning sunlight from the east, which is especially crucial in the short days of the winter months. 

In order to best facilitate the multi functionality of the Food Hub, our design features a program that promotes straightforward movement between spaces. The design considers the natural environment, demonstrated by the integration of interior and exterior spaces, solar awareness, and a development plan that responds to the site topography. A food pantry was included and integrated into the design to aid impoverished community members, as well as offer sustainable and economical solutions to potential food waste.

The resulting design exudes transparency in both concept and construction. The clarity of the program optimizes production, while the increased visibility into the various functions of the multi-purpose facility allows community members to observe, understand, and appreciate the work that goes into getting food from the farm to their table.