Written by Rachel Martin
The build phase has been completed on a new £2 million agri-tech hub in Hartpury, England designed to respond to global demand for new technology in farming.
Dubbed a ‘Digital Innovation Farm’, the development by Hartpury University and Hartpury College will include the National Centre for Agricultural Data Management and Interpretation. The centre will assist the industry in its advancement of agricultural technology, data and security.
Agri-Tech Centre
Establishing the agri-tech centre is part of the first phase of a 10-year plan for Hartpury.
The £2 million agri-tech centre will provide farmers, students and organisations with access to the latest commercial technology.
The major design and build project was awarded to Freeman Contracting, a division of Forest of Dean-based MF Freeman Group at the end of 2018.
The project comprised of three buildings. The Biosecurity Building and new Livestock Handling Unit, as well as the Agri-Tech Hub
There is a key focus on the latest smart farming techniques available to the livestock industry, and through knowledge transfer and practical demonstration, the Hub will support Gloucestershire’s farming businesses in increasing their productivity and profitability.
In order to have the facilities ready for students to use at the start of the academic year, the construction programme was restricted to six months.
The build team had to work to a tight, precise deadline, including commissioning and implementing the design phase. Construction began in March 2019 and the construction of all three units proceeded simultaneously.
The 97m long Livestock Handling Unit, which included an elevated teaching gallery to provide students with a comprehensive view of the livestock during lessons, a large penning and bedding area and bespoke cattle crush, was built around a robust steel frame.
The poured concrete floor with Accu-groove ground channels offered a practical and hardwearing surface. The building was then fitted out with services more expected in an office building, including WiFi, LED lighting and infrared cameras, as well as high-quality IAE handling systems.
The Biosecurity Building, which housed the welfare facilities for staff, visitors and students as well as providing safe and controlled access to the areas beyond, was of concrete block construction.
The Agri-Tech Hub (pictured top) was built of the same materials, and both buildings were then timber clad to present not only an appropriately natural exterior for a working agricultural site but also offering a lower environmental impact than other potential cladding materials.
Despite some challenges, not least of which was working beneath an 11kW electric service, the building was redesigned to sit 1800mm lower than originally planned, providing more working space and integrating into the landscape.
The Agri-Tech Hub, which cradles a landscaped terrace between its wings, features a beautiful glass front and a bespoke, curved mono-pitch roof.
Set at the highest point of the campus, this flat roofing solution allows the building to blend into the surroundings, providing a visual focus as visitors approach it without disrupting the view of the rural landscape beyond.
This innovative building provides Hartpury University and Hartpury College with a venue for meetings, conferences and events; it is designed to provide a unified flow between indoors and out, representing the institution’s dedication to blending the academic theory and history of agriculture with practical application.
It showcases the latest smart farming practices and techniques available to the livestock industry through research, knowledge transfer and practical on-farm demonstrations.
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