In 2011 the O’Brien Farm Foundation was formed to preserve and operate a 32-acre farmland in the middle of St. John’s Newfoundland as an active, working farm where people can learn about and practice sustainable food production through the foundation’s classes, workshops, and an incubator farm program which lends space and support for prospective food-based start-ups to germinate.

The O’Brien Farm Foundation intended to create dedicated space for experiential learning about farming, food sustainability, and heritage – the new Visitor Centre and Outdoor Kitchen were constructed to support their vision, providing flexible and functional spaces to fulfill the foundation’s goals.

Project Status: Complete 2023

Client: O’Brien Farm Foundation

Architectural Design:  Chris Woodford, Kathy Oke, Devan Burry, William Flynn

Engineering Team: MAE Design (Civil), DBA Consulting Engineers (Structural), Crosbie Engineering (Mechanical & Electrical)

Contractor: Viking Carpentry and Construction

Photography: Jane Brokenshire @janebrokenshire and Julian Parkinson @julianparkinson (detail and night photography)