Haybarn & Tractor Repair Facility

University of Massachusetts
South Deerfield, Massachusetts

Completed 2007

The U Mass Agricultural Research Program required two new structures for their farming and research operation at South Deerfield; one to house four motor repair bays and staff space for maintenance and repair of their heavy equipment, and one for hay storage. The original plan envisioned a simple pre-engineered structure that would match the scattered farm buildings.

TBA's solution reinterprets the classic barn form to maximize natural ventilation as well as reflect the state-of-the-art research engaged in by the University's staff and students. Taken from the form of opening a box, we pair the classic details of roof slope, clapboard and trim with new long-lived materials and technology that are appropriate for a large public institution. The two buildings form a sculptural composition that engages the beautiful site, nestled at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain and fronting the Connecticut River.