oyster research production facility

location:
est. completion date: TBA
project team:
Frank Harmon
Matthew Griffith

problem statement

The NC Aquarium Division’s Oyster Hatchery program needed a 24,648 SF production facility that would include laboratories, classrooms, offices and a public reception area. It needed to be sturdy, spacious, pleasant, efficient, environmentally responsible and user-friendly. We were also determined to prove that even a “work horse” such as this building could project a striking architectural presence that embodies the principles of sustainability.

our design response

The building is composed of strong, durable materials and clean lines. It is sited on an east-west axis to maximize natural lighting and ventilation. Broad roof overhangs on the southern elevation cover outdoor production areas and create porches that shade the interior from the harsh summer sun, while still allowing the lower winter sun to help warm the interior.

The interior is organized into two long (436-feet) sections bisected by a wide, open corridor that functions as an internal “street.” The double tiered, shed-like roof telegraphs the interior’s functional division: the lower roof defines the office/laboratory section while the taller roof (12 feet from floor to ceiling) defines the oyster production area. A drainage system allows the production facilities to be cleaned with ease, returning all water used in the process to a mechanical system before it’s recycled back to the natural water way. Rainwater collection cisterns provide the water for washing down the interior. A mechanical mezzanine beneath the 12-foot roof acts like a “cat walk” to allow easy access from above and allows for all mechanical services to be tucked neatly into this interstitial space, leaving the interior visually clean and clutter-free.

Necessary bio-retention swales and rain gardens became opportunities to create wetland gardens near windows. A garden of native landscaping greets visitors before they walk into the reception area. Porous paving in the parking area mitigates storm water run off and provides another usable outdoor area.

To further reduce costly energy consumption, the building features ground coupled heat pumps. The wide roofs also offer the opportunity for photovoltaic arrays to create electricity from the sun.