James Farm Ecological Preserve

James Farm Ecological Preserve delivers a timber-framed, sustainable campus with educational, operational, and outdoor spaces supporting environmental stewardship.

“Bancroft was an ideal partner, bringing a wealth of expertise, experience and creative flexibility to the effort. They proved to be not only professional builders, but superb problem solvers—a notable skill given the buildings’ unique design. None of the challenges that arose resulted in a shrug of the shoulders; just a “can do” commitment to get those roadblocks cleared and the job done well.”
Christophe A. G. Tulou
Executive Director
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

Project Stats

  • Owner
    Sussex County
  • Location
    Ocean View, Delaware
  • Project Type
    General Contracting
  • Design Professional
    David D. Quillin Architecture
  • Market
    Cultural
  • Square Footage
    6,000

The James Farm Ecological Preserve project created a dynamic campus featuring an Education Building, Maintenance Building, Paddle Sports Building, and enhanced outdoor gathering spaces, including an amphitheater and central decking. Designed to support interactive environmental education for school-aged children and operational facilities for the Center for the Inland Bays, the campus combines functionality with a sensitivity to the preserve’s rural character.

Buildings were constructed with glue-laminated timber frames, barn-style siding, and metal roofs, incorporating inverted roof curves and skewed layouts that required precise field installation of thirty columns per building and custom-fabricated roof supports. Exterior finishes, including T1-11 siding, skip-cladding, and polycarbonate panels, were carefully crafted onsite to maximize natural light, airflow, and sustainability. Outdoor features, such as decks, amphitheater seating, and rainwater collection systems, reinforce the preserve’s ecological mission.

Despite complex geometries, extended material lead times, and unique site conditions, the project was delivered successfully, creating a durable, flexible, and environmentally conscious campus that supports both educational programming and ongoing preserve maintenance.

Awards

AIA Chesapeake Bay Excellence in Design Awards (Awarded David  D. Quillin Architecture)

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