Posted by Casey Williams on April 8th, 2009
We have broken ground on the construction of the new building to house the Baldwin Center for Preservation Development at Bundoran Farm. The Baldwin Center building will house a non-profit foundation with a mission to showcase innovative practices in rural land use planning and development, agricultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
The new home of the Baldwin Center is located at the foot of Tom Mountain, overlooking the scenic Massie Barn and North Branch Creek, at the center of Bundoran Farm. The simple barn structure echoes the dignified agricultural architecture of this working landscape, and the immediate grounds illustrate approaches to the development of a rural homestead.
The building is constructed using innovative framing techniques that is stronger and more resource efficient than conventional framing methods. The GeoBarn building method consists of a modified post and beam structure with diagonal framing. A Roman arch flying buttress beam and bolt truss system allow for large spans without internal support and a cantilevered porch without ground support.
The diagonal framing adds a beautiful architectural feature, but one that often disappears behind drywall in conditioned structures. We will upload photos of the framing and provide construction updates on a regular basis to journal the building’s progress. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to post them to the blog.
When complete, the Baldwin Center building will provide a gathering place for local and farm related concerns, workshops and field trips, while the surrounding acreage will be dedicated to agricultural research and demonstrations. The Baldwin Center will include a resource library, work and gathering spaces for scholars, individuals and small groups interested in studying Bundoran Farm, or sharing experiences of related efforts around the world.
Filed under: Architecture and Design, Baldwin Center for Preservation, General, Green Building, Project Updates
[...] If you’re not paying attention to what’s happening at Bundoran Farm, you should be. They are building, and blogging about, their Geobarn as they develop the Baldwin Center for Preservation Development. [...]