A New View for Merck
Prepared for the Merck Forest and Farmland Center Prepared by Eric DePalo & Mariko McNamara The Conway School, Spring 2016
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Contents 4. executive summary context
6. land use history 8. regional 10. climate change and vermont 11. shifting forest composition 12. merck today 13. big framing question
analysis 14. existing conditions 16. entrance experience and visitor center 28. frank hatch sap house 20. soil 21. topography & drainage 22. slope 23. aspect 24. wind exposure 26. summary: assets and constraints 27. program goals designs 28. visitor center alternative concepts 30. access alternatives 34. site visions 38. community feedback 40. final design: entrance experience and visitor center 46. final design: access from visitor center to sap house 48. sap house recommendations
Acknowledgments
50. general recommendations and conclusion 52. appendix A: cost estimates B: stakeholder survey
The Hope Tree Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
We would like to thank each member of the Merck community for their generosity and inspiration. 3
Executive Summary The Merck Forest and Farmland Center is nestled in the Green Mountains of southwest Vermont in the town of Rupert, a place that epitomizes the picturesque charm of rural New England. At over 3,100 acres, the center focuses on “teaching and demonstrating the benefits of innovative, sustainable management of forest and farmland.� In recent years the center has re-emphasized this educational mission, reaching out to local middle schools in order to facilitate the new science curriculum (Next Generation Science Standards) in a natural setting. The center also offers workshops and demonstrations, a unique opportunity for nature connection for the public. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to visitors of all ages for activities such as hiking, hunting, skiing, snowshoeing, wilderness camping, and overnight stays in lean-to shelters or cabins. Merck approached the Conway School with requests to improve the entrance experience and access between the Joy Green Visitor Center and the farm complex, both aesthetically and functionally, and to consider the performance of the Frank Hatch Sap House as an educational space. This report considers these requests within the broader context of the site. The Conway team invested deep consideration into soil, slope, aspect, drainage, circulation, sun, and wind. These analyses shaped specific designs to improve circulation, access, and the overall entrance experience, while also informing recommendations for possibilities on a site-wide scale. These alternative visions of the site emphasize different aspects of the non-profit’s mission, from research and production to education and community. Each vision serves the region in different ways. The team presented these alternatives and visions to the community in stakeholder meetings that, along with surveys and interviews, began to clarify the needs of the organization and strategies for squaring these needs with site demands. Through this process it became clear that education was the top priority for Merck. This report intends to provide insight that will help uphold the mission of Merck for the near future. 4
Farm apprentices weed the raspberry patch
The main sap line runs from the sugar bush on the hill to the sap house
Looking south across the saddle Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Context: Land Use History Late 1700’s
European colonists settled the land now within Merck boundaries first in 1788. Within 15 years there was “a well established farm neighborhood community of at least a dozen self-sustaining farms within the property” (Cogbill).
Mid 1800’s
By the mid 19th century, many different landowners remained. The dozen small farms eventually consolidated into only five farms whose boundaries remained relatively consistent for the next century. The farms yielded a variety of vegetable crops, butter, and cheese, while maintaining a he rd of over 800 sheep. Eventually the sheep market collapsed and there was an increasing emphasis on timber.
“Sheep Mania!” of the early 19th century (left) left much of the landscape denuded (right).
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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Mid 1900’s
The farming economy slowed down in the 20th century and land ownership consolidated further. By the 1930’s there were no longer any resident farmers on the land and abutting properties were largely owned by local timber barons. A few of the most valuable fields, those that remain open today, were maintained. George Merck began acquiring lands in the 1940’s.
Originally called “The Vermont Forest and Farmland Center,” Merck was incorporated in 1950 “to conduct studies, experiments and demonstrations designed to improve and make productive the forests and farmland of Vermont.” In the beginning, the center established plantings of various promising species, such as birds-foot trefoil, a nitrogen fixing ground-cover intended to serve as soil-enriching cattle fodder, or Amur River Privet, a Siberian shrub intended as habitat for small game animals. Unfortunately, the center also established experimental plantings of autumn olive and multiflora rose, which are now known to have invasive tendencies. The property’s past has implications for current site conditions.
2016
Twenty-first century Merck is largely reforested. Only approximately 60 acres remain open in pasture and farmland.
How does land use history affect current ecology? What can we learn from mistakes and insights that came from those who stewarded the land before us? The history of this land illustrates how difficult it is to make a living up on a windswept hill in Vermont and how many different approaches have been tried already. Since inception, the center has been open to experimental techniques and species. This legacy remains embodied in the modern mission and strategic plan.
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500’ Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Context: Regional The areas highlighted in black share a similar climate to Vermont.
The overarching goal of the Merck Board of Trustees is “to position Merck as a leading regional resource for outdoor learning, nature exploration and environmentally sound forest and farmland management.�
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In one sense, a region is climatic and includes all landscapes that share a similar growing season, minimum annual temperature, and distribution of precipitation throughout the year. Areas across the earth that share a climate similar to Vermont are illustrated above and include northern Japan, much of eastern Europe and the northern tier of the United States and adjacent Canada. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
If Merck considers itself a leader in its climatic region, it should consider the needs and challenges of people living in these areas. This regional thinking is especially important during this time of global climate change (see page 12).
Combined Statistical Areas of the Northeast: A. Albany-Schenectady - 1,170,483 people B. Greater Boston - 8,099,575 people C. New York - 23,723,696 people
RT 153
A
RT 30
RT 315
B
MFFC
C
A region can also be defined as an area within geographic proximity. The Merck center is within a two hour drive from Burlington, the largest population center in Vermont, within a three and a half hour drive from Boston, the largest population center in New England, and approximately four hours by car from New York, the largest metropolitan center in the United States.
Town of Rupert
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If Merck considers itself a leader in its geographic region (the northeast) it should consider the needs of people living in these areas.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Although Merck is in a sparsely populated corner of Vermont, it is within reach of a large population of diverse user groups. Merck is specially suited to serve these population centers because the facility can offer visitors overnight accommodations.
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Context: Climate Change and Vermont Climate change is already underway and will continue to challenge the region in the decades to come. Since 1970 the annual average temperature in the Northeast has increased by 2°F, with winter temperatures rising twice this much (CCIV pp6.) Based on IPCC projections, this illustration (Right) shows the dramatic warming projected to take place in the coming century. The orange Vermont represents mean annual temperature in the year 2090 under a low emissions scenario where global carbon emissions are greatly reduced from modern levels. In this situation Vermont will increase by about 3°F by 2050, and about 5°F by late century, and will have a climate similar to modern Ohio. For the higher emissions scenario, however, these increases in temperature are larger and estimated at 4°F and 9-10°F, respectively. If current high emissions continue, Vermont’s summer climate by 2090 will feel similar to the climate of northwest Georgia for the period from1961- 1990 (CCIV pp3). Addressing climate change on a site specific scale is an effective way to think globally and act locally. (The Next Generation Science Standards curriculum also explicitly acknowledges the existence of anthropogenic climate change.) Climate change will affect every landscape differently, but the education that Merck can provide will empower visitors to address this problem in their own geographic or climatic region and beyond.
Current Climate
Low Emissions Scenario 2090
High Emissions Scenario 2090
Merck has a chance to set an example of how to act in response to the this challenging, changing climate. Adapted From IPCC Projections 10
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Context: Shifting Forest Composition The sugar maple has been in decline in Vermont and the Northeast in general since 1912 (VCA pp137). According to Climate Change and Vermont’s Food System, climate change presents a “direct threat to Vermont’s maple syrup industry” and sugar makers and researchers should “aggressively explore adaptation techniques” (CCVFS pp9).
Sugar Maple Range 1960-1990
As illustrated on the left, a warming climate combined with changes in precipitation cycles (wetter winters and extended dry spells in the summer) will cause sugar maples to migrate north out of Vermont completely by the end of the century. The iconic maple forest will be replaced by oak and hickory (VCA pp13). Because of this shifting mosaic of species, in the long term Merck should consider alternative species for sugaring, such as birch or red maple, which will remain productive in the region. Also, Merck should branch out into other enterprises, as diversity is key to economic and ecological resiliency. According to the Vermont Climate Assessment, “there is a long way to go in the use of education and outreach to help Vermonters mitigate and adapt to climate change through changes in their own behavior” (VCA 206). Although implications for farm management are serious, climate change poses a significant opportunity for Merck to rededicate itself to its education mission.
Projected Sugar Maple Range
Sources - Climate Change and Vermont’s Food System. Vermont Farm to Plate. vtfarmtoplate.com - Climate Change in Vermont. Alan K. Betts. Pittsford, VT Vermont Climate Assessment: Considering Vermont’s - Future in a Changing Climate. The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics and The University of Vermont. vtclimate.org
2070-2100
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Context: Merck Today
The Merck community today is both tightly knit and far reaching. A small staff and board forms the center which execute the daily operations of the farm. The site welcomes over 8,000 visitors a year, although this number may significantly under-represent the actual visitor total as many do not sign in at the visitor center. A more effective method of tracking visitors will help to quantify these stakeholders and obtain a sense of why they identify with this place and what they would like to change.
This stakeholder group recently expanded: in 2015 Merck initiated a pilot program for middle school students from the local Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union utilizing the Next Generation Science Standards curriculum. This stakeholder group is likely to increase further as the educational programming continues in the coming years. This group will hopefully forge a lifelong connection with Merck and consider themselves lifetime stakeholders. As the strategic goals state, “the aim… is for Merck to engage regularly with youngsters in their formative years, instilling in them a lifelong appreciation for nature and hands-on science.”
Finally, the members of the local natural community are affected by landscape management decisions as well and join the group of stakeholders. The establishment of plantings that benefit local pollinators or, conversely, become invasive will have measurable effects on the local ecology. Because Merck is a nonprofit and receives most of its income from donations and endowment (see pie chart below), it is legally obligated to fulfill its mission and address the needs of each of its stakeholders. Smaller enterprises which don’t bring significant income to Merck must be educational, engaging, and relevant to the network of stakeholders.
Farm Products 4% Visitor Center 3% Events 3% Education 1%
Merck’s Stakeholders Surrounding Ecosystem Local Community
Donations & Fundraising 40%
Visitors Board
Camping 10%
Staff
Merck’s Income Breakdown 12
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Sugaring & Forestry 13%
Endowment 26%
Context: Big Framing Question Merck’s mission, and the overarching goal of the board, informs the major framing question which will guide the design process beginning with site analysis:
With multiple challenges and opportunities on site, how can Merck best serve the region?
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Analysis: Existing Conditions
The Merck landscape provides opportunity for specific, small scale responses to regional challenges. This remarkable site has many impressive features and challenges that need to be examined to arrive at a successful design. The following pages include analyses of prominent forces acting upon and from within the site that need to be addressed within the context of the big framing question, “how can Merck best serve the region?”
Base Map 2000
Parking Lot
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Joy Green Visitors Center
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PROPERTY LIN
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Old Pole Barn
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Discovery Tra
New Pole Barn
Caretaker’s Cabin
Frank Hatch Sap House
American Chestnut Test Site
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19
Cement Pad
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
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Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
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Wind Turbine
Pig Barn
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Raspberry Patch
Page Pond
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To hiking trails & camping
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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
2200
1) Visitors arriving by car take this right-of-way into the
property, a ½ mile gravel road that is rutted in some areas, icy in the winter and generally provides a sense of separation from Route 315.
2) Visitors arrive at the main parking area and visitor
center, leave their cars and from now on the experience is entirely pedestrian. (Vehicular and pedestrian circulation is detailed on pages 18 - 19.)
3) The access road from the visitor center to the farm
is only 12 to 15 feet wide. This width leaves little room for pedestrians and vehicles to share the road and often cars have difficulty passing one another.
4) As pedestrians travel east along the farm road, they
are rewarded with a magnificent view of the first few fields of the farm.
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1
House comes into view. (The operation of this building is detailed on page 20.)
6) The farm road continues to the historic Harwood Barn and then into the barn complex complete with a maintenance building made from straw bale construction and the small animal barn. 3
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5) Continuing along the farm road, the Frank Hatch Sap
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Harwood Barn
Maintenance Building
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Small Animal Barn
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Existing Conditions: Entrance Experience and Visitor Center
Upon entering the Merck property, there are three points of conflict. The first is the tendency for arriving visitors to take a left and drive the wrong way (counterclockwise) around the larger roundabout.
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Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
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PROPERTY LINE
1800
The two smaller points of conflict occur where pedestrians and circulating automobiles intersect. This is not a major problem during most of the year, but can become problematic during busy events such as the annual pancake breakfast.
Old Pole Barn 1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
Maintenance Building Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1800 1700
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Offices
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Retail
Visitor Center
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Offices
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Legend
Automobile Pedestrian Conflict Point
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0
100’
100’ Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Locus Map 2100
To Route 315
Wood
1800
Blueberry Patch
Page Pond
Design solutions should provide security and safety for the visitor, while forming a gateway between the outside world and Merck.
PARK
American Chestnut Test Site
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19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
1900
The Merck Entrance is confusing for visitors with an abundance of impervious surface that does not provide a clear and welcoming entrance to the property.
2000
To Farm
2200
Visitor Center
Office Conference Room
Retail
Classroom
Entrance
The Visitor Center entrance faces away from the parking area, perhaps contributing to the problem of visitors not signing in when they arrive. Final designs should guide the visitors to where they need to sign in. The classroom area is undersized and constrains potential to host larger school groups. The retail area is also undersized and lacks adequate space to provide an additional educational experience.
Office
Looking east toward the Visitor Center from parking lot, the building is shrouded in the forest Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Existing Conditions: Frank Hatch Sap House Retrofitting the sap house into a year-round, educational centerpiece of the farm would realize the highest potential of this space. Standing at two stories tall with 4,000 square feet, the current Sap House strikes a bold figure on the landscape. The building houses the “arch,” where sap is boiled off during the late winter sugaring season, and keeps the bottom floor occupied with boiling and packaging for two months. This floor also holds a kitchen and syrup-keg storage. The second floor holds an event space which accommodates the annual pancake breakfast every March. With the current layout, the sugaring operation is difficult to access for educational purposes. From the second floor, visitors can only see a snippet of the process, yet the first floor is inaccessible and potentially unsafe for young children.
Upstairs event space with balcony Sap House Layout
Since the sap house is not heated, it is only habitable in the warmer months. Although poor construction left the building with numerous structural problems, improving the current building would minimize the breaking of new ground and demand a smaller ecological footprint compared to constructing a new building. In any scenario, this building should be multi-use and flexible. Improvements might include insulating the walls, installing bathroom facilities and reconfiguring the sugaring operation to present it safely and effectively.
Event/Meeting Space & Sugaring Observation
Syrup Packaging & Storage
Sap Boiling
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The “Arch”: Merck’s evaporator
90’
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Kitchen
30’
19
00
2000
00
20
Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
VC
PROPERTY LINE
1800
Old Pole Barn 1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
American Chestnut Test Site
00
19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1900
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
Page Pond
1800 1700
N
2000
500 ft
Locus Map 2100
2200
The lack of permanent bathrooms is a significant restriction on site. Portable toilets detract from the bucolic feel of the place.
The sap house sits prominently near the center of the farm (seen on the right of this photo). It could be considered the heart of Merck.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Analysis: Soil the National Resource Conservation Service as “prime agricultural soil of statewide importance”, meaning it is deep, well draining and has few rocks. These areas include the Harwood Barn complex, the raspberry and blueberry production, and areas used for annual agriculture in recent decades. Because of the high value of these soils, they should not be built upon and should be used strictly for production.
Prime soil should be used for production and not built upon. The property lies in the northern range of the Taconic Mountains, characterized by calcareous bedrock that contributes calcium to upper layers of the soil. Despite the site’s upland location, much of the soil is classified by
Other areas are not classified as prime soil and although they are still suitable for growing they may also serve as potential building sites. These areas include the Sap House, Caretakers’ Cabin and the old farmhouse site.
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2000
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PROPER
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170
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Prime Farmland
Not Prime Farmland
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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Analysis: Topography & Drainage A prominent saddle on site encourages water to drain east and west. Some erosion, pooling, and damage to infrastructure due to water runoff is present on site. A major watershed boundary divides the site, running north-south through the prominent saddle. The western portion of the property drains to the Hudson River, while
the eastern portion drains to Lake Champlain. Water on site is directed towards two intermittent streams, running east and west. The southwestern portion of the property contains three ponds and a registered wetland, supporting biodiversity and limiting building in those areas.
Currently, stormwater runoff causes erosion and pooling. The siding of several buildings, including the Harwood Barn and small animal barn, show water damage on their exterior walls. As always, water is both a resource and a liability on site. Designs should guard against erosion while also exploring resilient passive irrigation techniques such as on contour swales and additional ponds and paddies.
watershed boundary
intermittent stream
intermittent stream registered wetland
Drains to the Hudson Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Drains to Lake 21
Analysis: Slope Less steep areas on site should be reserved for annual agriculture.
The majority of the property is over 10% grade. The two flattest portions include the saddle and the parking lot. These areas are the least susceptible to erosion and, if possible, most suitable for any agricultural method that involves tilling the soil. Flatter areas are also easiest to maneuver for visitors on foot, a consideration for accessibility.
Legend
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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Analysis: Aspect South facing areas on site will be more productive, whereas north facing areas will be less productive. Conversely, the sugar bush located on the north-facing slope will remain viable for decades longer than southfacing sugar bushes in Vermont at similar altitudes.
A
From east to west, the farm complex is split into two aspects: a cold, north-facing slope that holds the sugarbush, and a warmer south facing slope where most of the existing buildings reside. The south facing slope receives full sun year-round and will be the most productive and best for siting energy efficient buildings.
A’
Summer Solstice 70° Vernal & Autumnal Equinox 47°
Winter Solstice 23°
A’
A
South Facing 500 ft
North Facing farm complex Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
sugar bush 23
Analysis: Wind Exposure Future development at Merck must be constructed to withstand the wind while preserving the beloved view. Prevailing winds rip through the exposed farm primarily from the southwest. The strong winds have left the blueberries flagging, blew down a plastic greenhouse, and threatened to blow down the sap house in a particularly strong winter storm. All systems on the farm must withstand these winds or risk being damaged or destroyed.
B’
B
Agricultural productivity and human comfort on site would be improved with the installation of windbreaks. These protective screens, however, cannot block the magnificent view. A windbreak also provides food for wildlife while simultaneously sequestering carbon to benefit human and natural communities in the region. Flagging blueberries illustrate the stress induced by year-round winds.
prevailing winds
prized view
B’ B 24
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Wind comes from the southwest, the same direction as the magnificent western view to the high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Summary: Assets and Constraints 19
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PROPER
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Wind
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Road
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Views
E 1700
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F
19 00
1600
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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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The combination of analyses lends significant insight into the character of the site and suggests the highest purpose for each area of the farm complex. For example, combining slope, soil, and sun analyses divides the farm area into 6 classifications, A through F, from most suitable for agriculture to least suitable. The boundaries between these zones are not as crisp as the map (left) shows, but provide a general sense of enterprise suitability.
A
Zone has prime farming soil, south facing aspect and a gentle slope. This area will likely produce annual crops with little risk of erosion.
B
Zone has prime farming soil and south facing aspect, but includes grades over 10% and is less suitable for annual agriculture. This zone is particularly suited for perennial agriculture that keeps the soil covered throughout the year.
C
Zone has a south facing aspect with slopes over 10% in non-prime farmland soil. These areas will be best for siting photovoltaic panels, passive solar buildings, or pasture. Soil may have to be amended in order to establish productive perennial agriculture on this soil type.
D
Zone has prime farming soil on a flat slope gently oriented toward the north. Although this zone is likely to be slightly less productive than the southern-oriented Zone A, it can still serve as a high yielding annual agriculture area.
E
Zone has prime farming soil but is heavily sloped and generally oriented toward the north. This area is a likely candidate for horse, sheep or pig pasture.
F
Zone is north facing, heavily sloped with poor soil. It is destined to be the least productive area on the farm. Beyond agricultural suitability, summarizing analyses illustrates the interplay between the current character of the site and the projected needs for the near future. In general there is tension between upgrading the infrastructure of the property and retaining the rustic feel of the place that many stakeholders value. Some of the buildings, highlighted in red, are in need of repair, retrofitting, expansion, or demolition. This built infrastructure, especially the sap house, should be improved before new buildings are constructed in order to minimize ecological impact. New buildings should “fit� ecologically and aesthetically into the landscape. One of the most significant challenges on site is the convoluted pedestrian and automobile circulation around the visitor center which compromises the pedestrian experience. Designs that define where to park and where to walk and provide an enjoyable first impression have the potential to positively affect the experience of each visitor (hunter, hiker, camper or student) who arrives at Merck.
Program Goals Overarching goals emerged from client needs and consideration of the character of the site: 1) Improve Visitor Center and entrance experience by eliminating conflict areas and encouraging more visitors to register and enjoy the Visitor Center. 2) Provide safe, enjoyable pedestrian access between the Visitor Center and the farm while maintaining the connection for farm vehicles. 3) Provide site-wide landscape alternatives that would serve the region in different ways. On the following pages, potential solutions are presented: 1. Visitor Center Alternative Concepts [pg 30-31] Loop the Loop Big Lot, Small Lot Pedestrian Paradise 2. Access Alternatives [pg 32-35] Pedestrian Pullouts Merck Highway All Access Trail 3. Site Wide Visions [pg 36-29] Education and Community Research and Production
Finally, there is tension between blocking the ruthless wind and preserving the views. Windbreaks placed thoughtfully to the west of productive plantings may help to alleviate this conflict. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Visitor Center Alternative Concepts
2000
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These alternatives attempt to improve circulation and the pedestrian entrance experience.
20
Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
VC
PROPERTY LINE
1800
Old Pole Barn
Entry Road
1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
American Chestnut Test Site
00
19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1900
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
Page Pond
1800 1700
N
2000
500 ft
Locus Map 2100
2200
Alternative #1: Loop the Loop VC
Visitor Sign In
To Farm Restricted Access Gate
The first alternative is the most straightforward retrofit and simply removes the center “link” in the roundabout. This reduces confusion and impervious surface while maintaining the easily navigable roundabout. Arriving visitors can still, however, drive the wrong way (clockwise) around the roundabout. Conflict also remains between pedestrians and cars in front of the Visitor Center. Alternative #2: Big Lot, Small Lot
Entry Road
This alternative removes both the center “link” and the southern portion of the roundabout. It has the least impervious surface and includes ample space for a large entrance or memorial garden. A small area in front of the visitor center can be used for staff parking, which would be helpful on a dark, icy, winter night. VC
Visitor Sign In
28
!
Restricted Access Gate To Farm
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
With this plan, the road in front of the Visitor Center may need widening to accommodate two-way traffic. Also, conflict between pedestrians and cars in front of the Visitor Center remains.
Alternative #3: Pedestrian Paradise
Entry Road
Visitor Sign In
In this alternative, the road between the Visitor Center and the parking area is removed completely, leaving a continuous entrance/memorial garden that caters to the pedestrian experience. This alternative involves less impervious surface compared with existing condition. All conflict areas have been eliminated: arriving visitors cannot go the wrong way, and pedestrians never cross the road. There is not, however, direct vehicle access to Visitor Center.
VC
Restricted Access Gate To Farm
In a “Pedestrian Paradise� visitors follow an all-access path between the parking lot and visitor center Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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Access Alternative 1: Pedestrian Pullouts
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Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
PROPERTY LINE
200
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VC
1800
Old Pole Barn 1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
American Chestnut Test Site
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19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1900
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
Page Pond
1800
1700
N
2000
500 ft
Locus Map 2100
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20
2200
These alternatives attempt to solve the conflict between cars and people on the main access road between the Visitor Center and the farm center. In the first alternative, pullouts are provided to allow vehicles to get out of the way of oncoming pedestrianry r or vehicular traffic. The road surface is improvedpand be h s shared, although the pedestrian has the right RaofPway. atc
typical section
A strong advantage of this alternative is the minimal impact ecologically and financially: it is likely to be the least expensive and least invasive to the wooded hillside. 0’
10’
pullout
Visitor Center
pedestrian R.O.W.
Pullout
Unfortunately, the pedestrian experience is somewhat compromised by having to share the road with cars.
Upgraded Surface
VC
Sap House
30
500’
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0’
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N
1820
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey. 1
Access Alternative 2: Merck Highway
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Joy Green Visitors Center
VC
PROPERTY LINE
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Parking Lot
Old Pole Barn 1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
American Chestnut Test Site
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19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1900
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Page Pond
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Locus Map 2100
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typical section
0’
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pedestrian path
two-way driving lane
Walking Path
Visitor Center
In this alternative the road is widened to suit the needs of heavy traffic, and an on-grade walking path is provided alongside the road, separated from traffic flow with a fence or row of bollards. Since the cars and people are physically separated, this alternative is safer than simply y providing pullouts. err b sp h Ra Patc Two cars can pass one another without needing to pull over, but this may jeopardize the rustic character of the place. The expanded roadway also implies the largest ecological cost which is not congruent with the mission of Merck. Perhaps this design could be shelved until the distant future when Merck hosts many times the number of current visitors and demands such an upgrade.
Expanded Road
VC
Sap House
N
0’
500’ Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
1820
31
Access Alternative 3: All Access Trail
19
00
2000
00
20
Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
PROPERTY LINE
200
0
VC
1800
Old Pole Barn 1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
American Chestnut Test Site
00
19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1900
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
Page Pond
1800 1700
N
2000
500 ft
Locus Map 2100
0 00
2
typical section
accessible path 0’
10’
R.O.W.
2200
In this last alternative, the road is for cars and the path is for people. This separation is the safest for everyone and provides a unique pedestrian experience. This design is also flexible: the road can be kept at its current width, expanded, or simply retrofitted with pullouts so that cars can pass one another without difficulty. rry e b If incorporated with Visitor Center circulation aalternative sp tch R Pa #3 this design could provide a continuous accessible experience between the parking lot and the Sap House, a unique opportunity that shows care and compassion for people of every ability. This alternative could also facilitate the educational mission with the inclusion of signs that identify and describe native plants and natural processes. Such a trail would also maintain the rustic feel that defines the Merck experience.
Accessible Trail
Visitor Center VC
Sap House
32
500’
0
0’
183
N
1820
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey. 1
These renderings show the benefits of a separated trail - although still within sight of farm vehicles, pedestrians are outside of danger. A staircase could allow easy pedestrian access to the hope tree.
Even sensitive ecosystems can be made accessible with an all access trail, such as in the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge in Hadley, MA
“Nice!�
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
33
Vision 1: Education and Community mission to teach and demonstrate the benefits of innovative, sustainable management of forest and
These conceptual alternatives (presented here and on page 38) emphasize different aspects of the Merck farmland. The first alternative focuses more on teaching what sustainable management looks like, while the second focuses on maximizing and demonstrating sustainable management.
19 0
0
2000
00
20
1
VC
180
0
A
PROPER
TY LINE
Pasture
2
170
0
3
B 4
N
34
5
C
American Chestnut Test Site
180
0
Blueberries
6
Pasture
Outdoor Art Gallery Sap House Retrofit Home scale Tapping Demo New Dormitory
New Farm Infrastructure 1700 Urban Farming Demo Annual Agriculture Plot
8
00
19
Pasture
00
Parking Lot Solar Array Visitor Center Update All Access Trail
7
19
A B C 1600
Raspberries
00
18
00
Pasture
20
0
210
500 ft
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
0
220
4) At the end of the trail is the sap house, complete
This first alternative focuses on teaching sustainable management of forest and farmland. Each element of the landscape is designed to engage, educate and empower the community. The site’s three core areas include the entrance experience, the sap house and surroundings, and a compact agricultural demonstration zone. A mission statement might resemble the following:
with insulation, heat, and bathroom facilities. It is now a year-round space that highlights the sugaring operation and serves as a flexible space to host workshops and demonstrations. (Sap House designs are detailed further on page 48.)
“We are an educational resource demonstrating a resilient, sustainable life for our community, both locally and around New England. We specialize in small scale enterprises that can be replicated at home, even in urban areas.�
in old fashioned buckets to demonstrate a method that can easily be replicated on a home scale. Workshops demonstrate the boiling process and showcase alternative sugaring methods that may be viable in the future.
1) Arriving at the site, a visitor parks underneath a
6) A new dormitory improves access to the facility, especially for groups visiting from urban areas for longer term retreats. This structure is built on the old homestead site, a flat location with excellent sun outside of the prime soil area. Also, located close to the Sap House and accessible trail, this dorm could potentially serve as a handicap accessible facility.
photovoltaic array which provides power for the whole site. These carports also protect vehicles from the sun, rain and snow, serving multiple functions and providing a bold introduction to the thoughtful design brought to every feature of the site. Pictured on the right are the solar car ports installed recently at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
2) An all access trail continues from the parking
lot and passes by the Visitor Center to the farm. The trail is accompanied by informative signs which celebrate the native vegetation growing alongside the trail and fulfill a learning opportunity as new visitors and school groups make the trek out to the main attraction of the farm.
3) Nearing the end of the trail, the view opens up to
5) Nearby, maple trees are tapped and sap is collected
1
2
3
7) New infrastructure is consolidated near the Harwood
Barn and includes a small homestead-scale greenhouse, honey production, and small root cellar, all of which can be replicated at home.
8) For those coming from the city, near the greenhouse
are intensive raised beds, demonstrating the productivity that can be achieved in a small space.
the main farm area, which features art made by the community. Such art empowers locals to engage with the landscape, encourages a sense of community ownership and interaction and celebrates the thoughtful and beautiful role humans can play in the ecosystem. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
5
35
Vision 2: Research and Production 19
00
2000
00
20
VC
180
0
A
PROPER
TY LINE
1
Raspberries 0
A B C D
2
Expanded Visitor Center Cultivated Forest/Food Forest
Polyculture Orchard Updated Sap House 1600 Aquaculture New Farm Infrastructure Edible Windbreaks Annual/ Perennial Production
D
B
5 6 3 4
C
8
00
19
7
American Chestnut Test Site
180
0
Blueberries
19 00
170
Multipurpose Pasture 00
1700
18
00
20
N 0
210
500 ft
36
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
0
220
This second alternative focuses on larger scale enterprises that produce surplus for distribution to the local community and beyond. This alternative includes four zones: the entrance experience, the sap house and surrounding orchards and ponds, an extensive area dedicated to annual and perennial agriculture, and multiyielding pastures. A mission statement might resemble the following: “We are an innovative working upland farm serving as an economically viable model, an ethical and trustworthy source for local, sustainable produce and meat. Also, we experiment, always trying to learn what can be grown in this climate.”
4
8
6
1) On the way from the Visitor Center to the Sap
House, the forest is extensively cultivated with perennial plants which yield in low light conditions such as mushrooms, ginger, ostrich fern, and ginseng. This model demonstrates a productive landscape that leaves the native canopy intact with minimal disturbance of soil.
2) The forest trail opens up to an expanded orchard
retrofitted into a “food forest” producing various yields while mimicking the layers of a native forest. Productive tubers grow under the surface of the soil and fruiting vines climb up nut trees occupying the canopy layer while letting some light filter down to the productive ground-cover layer.
3) The Sap House has been retrofitted with the
intention of processing the bounty of the farm. Along with the arch and sap processing areas, the bottom floor is complete with a commercial kitchen and space for slaughtering chickens and processing meat for the marketplace. The upstairs is used for curing garlic, drying herbs and hosting the occasional farm dinner, although the structure remains uninsulated and unheated.
4) Earthworks are installed in the hillside adjacent the Sap House to accommodate an innovative system of cold-climate rice paddies, a technique being practiced further up north in Vermont and has significant promise for the region. Rice is an emblematic crop, known for feeding the masses; growing rice in Vermont is an exemplar of bold experimentation in the face of global climate challenges.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
5) Upgraded farm infrastructure helps to support the
productive mission. Production scale greenhouses produce crops early for market and expand the diversity of crops that can be grown in the frigid climate. A perennial nursery supplies genetic material for the rest of the farm and the local marketplace. A capacious root cellar stores root crops and commercial scale honey production supplies the region while helping to strengthen local honeybee populations.
6) In order to improve productivity, the site includes
evergreen vegetative windbreaks, aligned in several north/south bands across the open landscape. These installations not only help to mitigate winter winds but also provide ecosystem services such as sequestering carbon and feeding wildlife. Composition may vary to discover which species are most effective for the task.
7) Annual production is focused in the flat, fertile, sunny area on permanent raised beds, still utilizing either hand tools or appropriate technology such as a walk-behind tractor. This agriculture can also be seen as preserving vegetative genetic heritage by stewarding crops that are particularly useful in a changing climate. 8) Perennial production is concentrated in extensive,
water harvesting, on contour swales replete with innovative species such as honeyberry, the hardiest berry in the world, sunchoke, a perennial tuber much like potato that only needs to be planted once or seaberry, known as the citrus of the north. The pasture will be complete with widely spaced swales to incorporate sheep or cows grazed in a cell rotation under a canopy of nut trees. In this system, multiple yields are returned from a space that once only produced grass and meat. 37
Community Feedback
38
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
These different site wide alternatives were presented in a stakeholder meeting in the Manchester Center library on June 1, 2016. A clear consensus emerged to focus on education rather than on production. Although any production model can also serve as an educational model, there is limited time, energy and money within the organization. Too much production can overwhelm the limited staff and resources of Merck and be detrimental to the educational mission. This sentiment is emphasized in the master plan, which states that farm operations should be “not only meaningful, but also manageable. In other words, too limited an operation (a “petting zoo” approach) ultimately would be of little relevance to residents of surrounding communities. On the other hand, a farm of excessive scale and breadth would overtax the Center’s apprentices, staff and, most likely, budget.”
Proposed Design
Education & Community Production & Research
In order to serve the region best, all built and living infrastructure on the site should help manifest the mission. A second priority that emerged was to maintain the “rustic feel” of the place. This means, for example, that visitors should not be allowed to drive beyond the main parking lot. Also, excessive development in the farm area might jeopardize the aesthetic.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
39
Final Design: Entrance Experience & Visitor Center
00 19
00
20
Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
VC
PROPERTY LINE
1800
Although only farm vehicles are allowed past the gate, the Visitor Center still needs public vehicle access. The area north west of the building has been cleared for deliveries, emergency access, and winter staff parking. A pullout to the south of the building provides space for farm vehicles to park briefly, or for the horse drawn carriage pick-up during large events.
Old Pole Barn 1700
Discovery Trail
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
Page Pond
1800
1700
N
Locus Map
2000
500 ft
2100
sign in pavilion
emergency access, winter
A’
2200
Visitor Center: Entrance moved to west side
memorial garden
Parking
B
American Chestnut Test Site
00
19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
Caretaker’s Cabin
1900
The entry experience design expands on the third alternative, “Pedestrian Paradise”. After parking their car, visitors walk along a path to the Visitor Center. A timber frame pavilion along the way displays property maps, hiking and camping regulations, and the event schedule. This area introduces visitors to Merck and encourages them to sign in. From here, the path winds through a lush memorial garden. The path splits to allow visitors to continue to the Visitor Center or walk straight to the farm.
2000
B’
memorial garden path to farm restricted access gate
N
40
0’
100’ Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
pullout
A
A’ A
access road
path
visitor center
The view from the parking lot with the sign-in pavilion and Visitor Center in the distance (above).Only farm vehicles use the access road near the Visitor Center, preserving the rural aesthetic (left). The vegetation provides separation from the parking lot. A layer of trees and grasses surround a beautiful memorial garden as visitors leave their cars and walk towards the Visitor Center (below).
B’ B 0’
parking
pavilion
pollinator garden
100’ Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
visitor center 41
Entrance Garden Planting Plan The entrance garden is composed of two planting zones:
Park
1
Zone is intended to be low maintenance, low cost and serve as a transition area between the memorial garden and the parking lot. This zone retains healthy, existing trees. A portion of the existing road will need filling in and seeding with a native grass and wildflower mix, such as the “Erosion Control Mix” and the “Showy Wildflower Mix” from the New England Wildflower Society. The entire area requires mowing once or twice a year.
1
N
100’ 42
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
2
Zone , the memorial garden, is a multi-layer sweep of native, perennial pollinator plants and shade tolerant groundcovers (right), that will flower from spring to fall. This area will also serve as a memorial garden for an important stakeholder. Plant cuttings can be donated from her well-cared for garden and from the pallette on the right. This will form a beautiful tribute to her love of gardening and her love of Merck.
2
Shade Tolerant Groundcovers
Allium tricoccum, ramps
Matteuccia struthiopteris, ostrich fern
Podophyllum peltatum, may apple
Asarum canadense, wild ginger
Mentha spicata, spearmint
Polygonatum biflorum, giant Solomons deal
Carex pennsylvanica, Pennsylvania sedge
Gaultheria procumbens, wintergreen
Polytrichum commune, common haircap moss
Comptonia peregrina, sweet fern
Panax quinquefolius, american ginseng
Sedum reflexum, stonecrop The entrance is framed by a diverse mix of spreading, shade-tolerant ground covers with various textures, heights and uses.
Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey tea
Pachysandra procumbens, allegheny spurge Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
43
Visitor Center Updates Updated: Entrance moved to west side, retail expanded into museum
Existing Office Conference Room
Retail
Classroom
Entrance
Museum/Retail
Entrance
Office
N
Considerations for Visitor Center Renovations: This design moves the entrance of the building to the west side, closest to visitor parking. Inside uses shift to allow visitors to enter what is currently the staff conference room. The retail area expands into a museum, and the design moves the conference room into what is now the classroom. In this scenario, the classroom would be moved out of the building entirely.
44
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Offices
Exit
Conference Room
Visitor Center Expansion Opportunities constrained expansion
In order to accommodate the desired program inside the Visitor Center, the current building may require expansion. The diagram on the left shows the best places for expansion and areas where conditions may constrain construction.
expansion opportunities
The red colored areas are areas where construction would be more difficult. When the Visitor Center was built, bedrock had to be blasted, leaving rock ledges to the north and east of the current building. Expansion could be built on top of this ledge or additional blasting would be necessary. The blue areas show the areas outside of the building that are currently open grass or gravel and could accommodate the expansion. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
45
Final Design: Access from Visitor Center to Sap House This design offers an all access path, separate from the road, from the parking lot to the Sap House. People of all abilities can immerse themselves in the rural landscape at Merck. The existing road, used only by farm vehicles, now has three pullouts. These provide the solution to road traffic with the least ecological impact. Steps around the Hope Tree connect the path and road and provide pedestrians with an opportunity to experience the tree up close.
As the woods open up to the farm complex, pedestrians walk past an accessible cabin on their left. This cabin offers a rustic experience while still being relatively close to the entrance. The cabin offers magnificent views of the sap house, pasture, and hills beyond. Across from the sap house, the line of maple trees are tapped with buckets by visiting families before they enter the sap house and witness the boiling process.
A new dormitory on the site of the historic farm house hosts a class of children overnight. The incorporation of the dorm within the farm buildings immerses visitors in the daily happenings. This design maintains the aspects that so many stakeholders value. Despite Merck’s rustic qualities, this design focuses on making the farm more accessible and creating a thoughtful, engaging experience for all visitors.
all access trail visitor center
pullout
steps to road
pullout the hope tree
N
46
0’
100’
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
pullout
19
00
2000
00
20
Parking Lot
Joy Green Visitors Center
VC
PROPERTY LINE
1800
Old Pole Barn 1700
Caretaker’s Cabin
Discovery Trail
American Chestnut Test Site
00
19
Cement Pad
Frank Hatch Sap House
1800
Blueberry Patch Maintenance Building
Harwood Barn
Horse Shed
Wind Turbine Pig Barn
1900
1600
Raspberry Patch
New Pole Barn
Page Pond
1800 1700
N
2000
500 ft
Locus Map 2100
accessible cabin
2200
caretaker’s cabin
maple tree tapping demonstration
sap house Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
dormitory 47
Sap House Recommendations
Catwalk Event & Workshop Space
Commercial Kitchen
The Arch
48
Syrup Packaging & Storage
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Bathrooms
The sap house should serve as the heart of the farm and as a symbol of education and innovation. The sap house should also function as a “living museum” that honors the art and the history of the craft of sugarmaking. This means the space should be optimized for self-guided tours, complete with informative plaques and clear signs and be designed to provide inclusive access and circulation to the extent possible. For the forseeable future, the sap house should remain in its current location. Excessive development on site may compromise the rustic feel of the landscape. Additionally, there are significant financial and ecological costs to breaking new ground. Access to the building needs improvement. To make the sugaring operation more easily understood, a catwalk could be installed on the second floor to provide a view of the sap boiling operation from a safe distance. The catwalk would be most suitable for children, who would need to maintain a safe distance from the hot stove. Wayfinding signs placed strategically outside the sap house could lead visitors through the maple grove just north of the main entrance to the building. These signs could lead into the sap house, perhaps embedded in the floor, guiding visitors to the catwalk.
Upon arriving at the catwalk, visitors could study a picture detailing the sapping operation. Each angle could have its own labeled picture, providing a 360 degree view of the operation without risk of interference. Well-behaved visitors could be invited down the staircase to get a closer look. The sapping operation will be more memorable (and a more effective educational tool) if visitors were allowed to get close, touch, taste, get their hands dirty and feel the heat of the arch. Boiling can be a lonely task with long hours, and a facility that allows people to interact with the sugarmaker may benefit both the sugarmaker and the visitor. For this to be possible, an all access trail, ADA accessible ramp or, in an unlikely scenario, an elevator from the top floor would be necessary. Further designs should consider the feasibility of these options. The question: “how can a modern sugaring operation be made sustainable?” should guide the sap house program. As such, the vacuum pump should be eliminated if possible. This will demonstrate that syrup can be collected passively, without the use of fossil fuels. If not possible, the pump could be powered by a small solar array.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
49
General Recommendations Pursue a complete master plan The strategic plan emphasizes the need for “the drafting of a master site plan to guide improvement of farm buildings and other critical infrastructure.” Although this project highlights priorities for the near future, pursuing a master plan will help to guide smart decision making deep into the future. Such a process will save money in the long term as investments are spent toward thoughtful ends. A master plan will also assist Merck as they raise money for specific projects. In the words of one stakeholder, “the farm needs a multi-year plan to avoid erratic evolution and inconsistent program delivery.” Improve inadequate infrastructure first The first “phase” of improvements should involve optimizing current infrastructure. Infrastructure failing or in need of upgrading includes the roof and drainage around the Harwood Barn; insulating, waterproofing and improving the Sap House as detailed in this report; expanding the small animal barn and replacing rotted siding; and improving the power supply out to the farm. Retrofitting and repair is generally more cost effective and ecologically sound than new construction. Make history visible in the landscape One of Merck’s biggest assets is its diverse legacy as a productive, upland farm. This history could be made easily legible to the average visitor through illustrative signs with historical imagery or perhaps through a selfguided audio tour. Plan for climate change Climate change is an impending crisis that requires significant foresight from regional leaders such as Merck. All designs on site should be as resilient as possible in the face of worsening weather trends: longer dry periods, 50
heavier rainfall, and shifting climatic zones. Eliminate fossil fuel usage on the farm A true regional leader in this time of climate change should seek to operate without fossil fuels under ideal conditions, if not completely. This implies the optimization of current green energy systems such as connecting current wind turbine and Visitor Center photovoltaic cells and establishing further energy generating systems. Reducing fossil fuel usage also demands conserving energy wherever possible. Some valuable techniques include passive irrigation, which involves catching and storing rain water high in the landscape, either in cisterns or ponds, and distributing this water by gravity. Intensive agriculture that utilizes only hand tools is another technique that saves fossil fuels since it does not demand the use of motorized equipment. Consider partnerships and seek assistance There are many organizations within the region that share Merck’s values and vision. These allies include private organizations, state and federal sources of both information and funding. Receiving the right information and appropriating public funds will be easier after the completion of a master plan. Specific, site-scaled projects are more likely to win grants than projects in the conceptual stage of design. Be thrifty Structures and programs should maintain an air of thrift and thoughtful frugality. All improvements should be mission-related (education, working lands, habitat, etc.) but should seek to provide a resource that fits community needs and be scaled to be comfortable and accessible to both locals and visitors from afar. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Incorporate additional signs Current signs are aesthetic and helpful, but some visitors still have difficulty discerning which areas of the farm are public and which are not. This leads to dangerous situations, such as visitors wandering into the open door of the maintenance building. Additional signs will not detract from the rustic feel, especially if crafted by local artisans or school children. Value perennial food crops Most private owners are not inclined or capable of investing in a crop such as nut trees which take a decade or more to yield a profitable crop. Yet, such enterprises are the cornerstone of low-input, no-till productive systems of the post-oil future. Merck is uniquely able to experiment with the feasibility of perennial crops that will serve the region in an unstable climate. Explore season extension Cold frames, hoop houses and heated greenhouses are necessary to make the land productive in early spring and late fall. A greenhouse full of figs sounds outlandish, but grants towards this sort of experiment have been awarded to other educational institutions in the northeast in recent years. Such research could be seen as low hanging fruit. Pursue biodiversity The highest metric for health of an ecological system is functional biodiversity. All operations on the farm should attempt to feed or provide habitat to native wildlife and increase ecological integrity.
Conclusion The Merck Forest and Farmland Center is a remarkable place that exposes visitors to both wild nature and the working landscape. As Merck pilots the Next Generation Science Standards program and reaches out to more user groups, it is also recommitting to its educational mission. This design process revealed that education remains a top priority for Merck for the years to come. This beautiful landscape will need to serve those needs, while also retaining its cherished rustic feel. This design process offers solutions for the most pressing needs of the farm. A reconfigured Visitor Center circulation pattern aims to eliminate confusion as one arrives by car, and then caters to the pedestrian experience. This entrance experience truly honors the character of the site and connects seamlessly with the new accessible trail between the Visitor Center and the Frank Hatch Sap House. In these designs, passage between these two main areas of the property is both rustic and safe. A completed master plan in the near future will help Merck balance its many priorities. As one stakeholder said, “the farm should not be a petting zoo, model farm, production farm, research facility, or agriculture school; however, the farm should strive to be a complex, relevant, inspiring mixture of them all.� Merck continues to make great strides in the service of its community and will continue to explore what leadership means in the region.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
51
Appendix A: Cost Estimates
Final Design: Entrance Experience & Visitor Center (see pg 40)
Final Design: Access from Visitor Center to Sap House (see pg 46)
52
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Appendix B: Stakeholder Survey Survey
1. What do you love about the Merck Center? What makes this place special? What does Merck mean to you?
2. What are your biggest concerns? What problems do you see?
3. What is successful about the current entrance experience? Unsuccessful? What would improve the entrance, from road to parking lot to Visitors Center to farm?
4. What activities do you think Merck is well suited for that you would like to see on the land? 1. Permaculture Certificate Course/ Convergence 2. Primitive Skills Course, Convergence 3. Obstacle/ Ropes Course 4. National Outdoor Leadership School Workshops 5. Other ideas?
5. What activities would you never want to see on the land?
6. What would make the site more functional?
7. What is your vision for the future of the Merck Center? In 5 years? In 50 years?
8. What else should we know? What other thoughts do you have?
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
53