This edition of the Phius Project Spotlight series highlights the Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery in Callicoon, New York.
Our July Project Spotlight is the world’s first Phius Certified cidery: Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery in Callicoon, New York.
Our monthly Project Spotlights highlight the cutting-edge work being done by Phius professionals and provide examples of successful design and construction strategies. We feature projects of various sizes, typologies, and climate zones, offering you a peek behind the curtain of each. The Project Spotlight series appears in e-blasts to our mailing list (be sure to join if you haven’t already) as well as right here in the Klingenblog.
Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery is the world's first cidery constructed to Phius standards. The architect was asked to make the building highly efficient so that its design and performance match the organic and holistically sustainable orchard practices. The cidery is a state-of-the-art production facility while also simultaneously having low-energy consumption and being low-maintenance. The building utilizes a super-insulated, air-tight thermal envelope to prevent unwanted heat loss or gain. It has a ventilation system designed to provide a comfortable environment for guests while removing exposure to pollutants, allergens, and potential hazards to health such as mold.
The building was constructed into the side of a hill, where the change in grade allows easy access to upper and lower levels for all people. This position also takes advantage of the sloping site and earth shelter to provide cool temperatures for natural cider fermentation and bulk apple storage at the lower level. Photovoltaic solar panels produce electricity for the building and help offset the energy usage of the production equipment. Environmentally conscious practices are present even in the site lighting and signage, which are full-cut-off, dark-sky compliant in order to help reduce nighttime light pollution.
Long-lived, natural materials that require little to no maintenance were chosen. Reclaimed old growth larch was used as an exterior cladding, and interior wall finish. Locally sourced bluestone is present in the outdoor terrace and foundation wall cladding, and the events space flooring is locally milled white oak with a no-VOC finish. Material selections for thermal performance included triple-pane windows, cellulose insulation, and Rockwool. Lightweight expanded glass aggregate was added to the concrete mix which dramatically reduced the weight of the concrete mix delivered to the site and led to lower emissions from trucking. This concrete mix also greatly improved thermal performance of foundation walls and reduced the amount of additional exterior insulation needed.
Additionally, the orchard brings a considerable boost in an economically depressed rural community, creating a total of 27-30 jobs through the cidery production, kitchen and tasting room, orchard seasonal employment, and full-time orchard hands and orchard manager. The real economic boost comes with the expected 15,000 visitors per year, bringing increased hotel bookings and business to local coffee shops, craft and entertainment venues. The kitchen is supplied by direct purchase agreements with local farms and bakeries, providing a steady and reliable market within the local economy.
All images credit to Brad Dickson