Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op

Summary

The Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, founded in 1976, had been operating since 1985 in a cramped downtown storefront. The Co-op chose Bread Loaf to double the size of the store on an adjacent but confined site. Bread Loaf’s design centers on a new plaza that creates an inviting entrance courtyard, encourages outdoor dining, and serves as a gathering place for Co-op sponsored events.

The new store offers a large uninterrupted interior space, without losing the unique, small-scale, quirky character of their old store. The building also fits into the scale and character of Middlebury’s historic downtown district.

Green Building/Sustainable Design

Redevelopment of downtown site
Removal of hazardous materials and reclamation of site
Deconstruction of existing buildings – major building components such as windows, doors and other salvaged materials were recycled for reuse
Demolition waste management plan - demolition waste was diverted from landfill
Tight, well-insulated building envelope
Daylighting provided by skylights
Energy efficient lighting
Use of low-emitting interior finishes
Overall building energy efficiency
Water conserving plumbing fixtures

Awards

Better Buildings By Design

2005

Excellence in Comprehensive Building Design
Honorable Mention

Efficiency Vermont

Vermont Public Spaces Merit Award
2002

American Society of Landscape Architects, Vermont
Vermont Planners Association
American Institute of Architects, Vermont
American Society of Civil Engineers