Agricultural Centre

Completed in June 2009, this mixed use building has been developed for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to provide office facilities (906 m2) and a farm shop and café ( 722 m2).
The £5.1m building is a flagship for agriculture and rural activity in the North of England. It houses the Society’s staff, and provides a base for not for profit and rurally orientated organisations, to become a hub of agricultural excellence. The Centre also includes Fodder, a farm shop and café showcasing, preparing and selling all that’s best of the Yorkshire region’s food and drink.
Conceived as a Green development from the start, the scheme won an EG Green Award in 2009.
With a timber frame throughout, the building’s special features include:
Sedum roof — gives great insulation, blends into the landscape and is excellent for insects and birds.
Rainwater Harvesting — water off the roof is collected and used for flushing toilets.
Sensor Taps — ensure that water is not wasted as taps can’t be left running.
Sheep Wool Insulation — the walls are insulated with sheep wool, using over 1500 sheep fleeces. Good for the environment and giving sheep farmers a fair price for their wool.
Dry Stone Walling — using reclaimed Yorkshire stone.
Ground Source Heat Pumps — provide natural heating throughout the building.
Solar Panels — roof mounted solar panels heat the water for the wash hand basins.
Recycled Plastic Bottles —recycled plastic bottles are used for doors and vanity units in the toilets.
Natural Ventilation — there is no air conditioning in the building, instead, natural ventilation is provided through high level windows which open automatically when needed.
Light Sensors — the building is bathed in as much natural light as possible to minimise the need for electrical light. Where artificial light is needed, it is controlled through automatic sensors.
Local People — wherever possible local companies were contracted to carry out work on the building.

Latest Awards News: RIBA White Rose Awards 2010 – Silver Medalist and Sustainability Award
RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards 2010 – Sustainability Award and Project of the Year
RICS International – Commended for Sustainability