Agriscience projects present unique challenges, from rapidly evolving technologies to sustainability demands. These projects often require specialized solutions, such as integrating complex systems for human and animal use, where traditional methods may not suffice. Agile Design addresses these challenges with a flexible, adaptable approach that prioritizes people (and animals) by design. This method creates facilities that are innovative, functional, future-ready, and tailored to the unique needs of users. Below, we explore key agile design principles and how we have applied them to achieve exceptional results.

Collaboration with Stakeholders: Tailoring Solutions to Unique Needs

Agile Design emphasizes understanding stakeholder needs through early and consistent collaboration using interactive methods like visioning sessions and design charrettes. These tools encourage stakeholders to articulate goals and explore creative solutions, uncovering insights that ensure the design meets diverse user needs. This approach fosters shared ownership, resulting in highly functional, adaptable spaces.

Example: UF Beef Teaching Facility

The University of Florida’s Beef Teaching Facility illustrates the power of stakeholder collaboration. By engaging educators, researchers, and staff early, Walker Architects designed a 6,000-square-foot facility with classrooms, housing, and a cattle pen. Stakeholder input shaped every detail, creating a cost-effective, efficient space that exceeded expectations.

Design Process: Adapting to New Information

Even with thorough planning, new insights often emerge during the design process. These can arise as stakeholders gain a deeper understanding of their needs, as the design evolves, or from external sources such as advancements and best practices within the broader agriscience network. Agile Design embraces these developments, allowing the project to pivot and align with updated priorities or challenges. This flexibility ensures decisions support functional and operational goals while adapting to evolving needs.

Example: Camp John Hope Agriscience Building

This project was originally conceived as a new building, but as priorities shifted to focus on maximizing the available space within the budget and meeting the growing demands of the lab spaces, this project shifted to a renovation with additions, maximizing resources and focusing on primary agricultural programs. The final design integrated specialized labs, classrooms, and outdoor spaces, showcasing how agile design adapts to changing priorities.

Focus on Flexibility, Well-being and Environmental Impact

The agriculture industry thrives on the interconnected well-being of people, animals, and the environment. Agile Design creates environments that prioritize comfort and safety for both humans and animals while championing responsible environmental stewardship. This approach ensures facilities are not only highly functional but also align with the broader goals of the agricultural community.  Key practices include:

• Water Conservation: Efficient irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and reuse technologies.
• Energy Efficiency: Renewable energy, smart building systems, and efficient lighting.
• Material Selection: Eco-friendly materials, natural ventilation, and daylighting.
• Biodiversity Preservation: Native landscaping and sustainable land management.

Example: Austin Cary Forest Conference Center

Using natural materials and energy-efficient systems, this facility harmonizes with its forest setting while minimizing its carbon footprint, serving as a sustainable model for workshops and events.

Example: Chi Institute Animal Hospital

The design for Chi focused on animal well-being by using design strategies like natural light and visual connections to the outdoors; slip-resistant flooring for furry feet; acoustical separation between exam rooms; and a one-way corridor system to mitigate unwanted encounters between animals. Each of these strategies lessens the stress placed on patients and helps to ensure each animal has a positive experience.

Focus on Flexibility: Adapting to Evolving Needs

Agriscience facilities must adapt to technological advances and evolving industry needs. Agile Design incorporates modular layouts, adaptable infrastructure, and future-ready systems, ensuring long-term relevance and functionality.

Example: World Equestrian Center Ocala Vet Clinic

Walker Architects reused materials and implemented modular solutions to prepare the clinic for advancements in veterinary practices, balancing sustainability with adaptability.

Example: UF Beef Teaching Facility

The modular design of UF’s Beef Teaching Facility accommodates diverse uses, from education to hands-on demonstrations, ensuring the facility remains functional as needs evolve.

Agile Design in Action

These examples demonstrate how agile design meets immediate requirements while anticipating future demands. By focusing on collaboration, sustainability, and adaptability, this approach empowers agricultural institutions to innovate, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

To learn more about our agile design philosophy, listen to our podcast, Design for an Agile World. Joe Walker, President and Managing Principal of Walker Architects sits down with other thought leaders across multiple industries to share stories and perspectives about designing a world where everyone wins. Or sign up for The Solve, a monthly letter directly from Joe’s desk.

Explore how Walker Architects can help you design the future of agriscience and agriculture, driving progress and sustainability in your spaces.