Innovative Designs for Agricultural Facilities

Agricultural facilities have undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, shifting from traditional warehouse-style buildings to highly engineered, flexible environments. Whether you’re building a warehouse to store perishables or a production facility to process harvests, agricultural facilities of all types can benefit from the streamlined design-build method of construction.

The design-build method is a collaboration-forward process that helps get projects off the ground faster and more efficiently. It shortens the feedback loop between builders and clients, assuring that architecture, engineering and all trades are aligned. Here are a few ways we’ve seen the design-build process deliver innovative results for our agricultural clients:

Wide Open Spaces

Today’s agricultural facilities are engineered not just for production, but also for adaptability, with modular layouts that support a variety of needs. Material and structural innovations have come a long way, and agricultural facilities can utilize these trends to build facilities that are sized for flexibility. Insulated sandwich panels or pre-cast concrete systems assure spaces are free from major support beams – enhancing the openness and usability of a building. They’re also highly durable and allow for quick assembly, helping to save on labor and reduce construction timelines.

The materials used can also be selected based on the products you’ll be storing. Corrosion-resistant composites or coated metals are ideal for high-humidity environments or facilities that will undergo constant cleaning, since these materials hold up to chemical exposure better than others.

Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

Processing or storing foods requires consistent compliance with regulatory standards. This compliance starts with the right building design and infrastructure. Where other commercial spaces need to account for zoning and local building codes, agricultural facilities also need to consider EPA, OSHA and local ag-environmental standards.

Does your building need to plan for odor control or runoff mitigation? Innovative solutions for covered storage, air filtration and containment berms can be designed into your space. Zoned circulation that separates “clean” and “dirty” pathways can reduce contamination risk. Water reclamation systems can deliver cost savings and environmental benefits.

Shipping & Receiving

With agricultural buildings, the outside is just as important as the inside. Shipping and receiving bays need to be planned for early and engineered for the future. This includes accounting for all the variables that can affect your parking and loading areas. The placement of your building will assure adequate traffic flow and access. You’ll also want to consider designing in separate exit and entry points for loads and a wide turning zone.

Loading docks can also be a major source of temperature leaks in buildings. For agricultural spaces that house perishables, proper insulation and fast-closing doors can help regulate the environment.

Office Spaces

Is your agricultural building also your company’s headquarters? Office spaces and meeting rooms may also be important aspects of your build. If your agricultural facility will function like a warehouse or manufacturing space, you’ll want to design and plan for noise control. Office placement as well as innovative noise abatement materials that can keep work zones quiet.