Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Education Campus

Accokeek, Maryland

Environmental education in a Living Building Challenge inspired campus

Three big ideas:

Environmental Education,
Zero-Energy,
Zero-Water

The Potomac Watershed Education Complex is a series of Living Buildings at Hard Bargain Farm, a renowned environmental education center on a 100-acre site along the Potomac River. The project advances the notion of a Living Building by considering what it means to be a Living Campus. Rather than working independently, the structures are designed to work together to achieve net-zero energy and water targets. The symbiotic buildings include a 3,000 sf multi-purpose day use building, a 7,000 sf dormitory building with classrooms, two sleeping cabins, and a wetlands boardwalk. A highly collaborative process was used to engage staff and stakeholders in the initial masterplan and subsequent designs of the individual projects.

Project Gallery

The project began with a community design charrette where we all rolled up our sleeves to explore the project together.
During the charrette multiple sites on the property were evaluated.
The campus features two public buildings, two cabins, vehicular circulation, a wetland boardwalk, and a ground mounted solar panel array.
The Cafritz Environmental Center is the 13th building in the world to have achieved Living Building Challenge certification.
The two sleeping cabins echo the primary material and design character of the Cafritz Center while maintaining an intimate scale for visiting campers.
The Moss Building will feature learning space, event space, staff offices, and bunk rooms.
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