northern neck oyster hatchery

see report PDF
location: Northern Neck, Virginia
est. completion date: TBA
project team:
Frank Harmon
Matthew Griffith

problem statement

The Northern Neck Planning District Commission asked us to conduct the feasibility study for an eco-friendly, commercial-scale oyster hatchery to be located on the Northern Neck peninsula on the Chesapeake Bay, and to design the facility. The key reason for the Northern Neck Oyster Hatchery Project (NNOHP) is the lack of oyster larvae and seed currently available in Virginia, which limits the industry’s stabilization and economic vitality. The hatchery’s ultimate goal is to supply the oyster industry in Northern Neck, and perhaps elsewhere, with quality larvae and seed.

our design response

The hardworking, 16,639 SF building features a galvanized metal shell and concrete base/floor with drainage to allow the production facilities to be cleaned and the water used cleaned and recycled back to the natural waterway. The building is sited to take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation: clerestory windows along the northern elevation and southern wall bring prevailing breezes and day lighting into and through the interior. Broad roof overhangs provide shade while from the harsh summer sun yet allow the lower winter sun to warm the interior.

The hatchery is organized into two long sections bisected by a wide, open corridor. Labs, classrooms, offices and reception area are located in the north-facing section across the corridor from the oyster production area. The corridor, accessed at either end by garage-style doors, becomes an internal “street” for delivery trucks and forklifts as well as staff. Glass interior walls fronting the algae bag rooms allow clear view of the work inside. The double-tiered, shed-like roof reflects interior functional areas and recalls the gentle slope of the coastal terrain, making a large building seem smaller in this tidewater setting.

Using LEED principles in its design, the hatchery becomes part of its environment rather than an object upon it. The porous-paved parking area mitigates stormwater run-off (a major threat to river and sounds) and reads as open green space when cars are not there. Bioretention swales and a rain garden collect and filter rain water to also eliminate run-off issues.

Ultimately, the new NNOHP’s green architecture proves that even a “work horse” facility can be a pleasant place to work, a beacon of sustainability, and a model for responsible development.

This is Phase One of the project. Phase Two will be the actual construction of the high-production hatchery. For more information on the project, go to www.nnpdc.org.