Farmer and the Bell

Woodstock, VT

Designer/Builder: Geobarns

Mechanical Contractor: ARC Mechanical

Structural Engineer: Engineering Ventures

Project Description:

This modern barn structure is home to Farmer and the Bell bakery, built on a brownfield site along Route 12 in Woodstock, VT. Energy efficiency and electrification to the greatest extent practically possible were goals for the project. Cold-climate air-source heat pumps provide reliable heating and cooling, even through the region's extremely cold winters, remaining operational down to -24°F outside air temperatures. Fresh air is supplied by two energy recovery ventilators — one serving bathroom exhaust and staff ventilation needs, and a second that automatically responds to space CO2 levels when the business is open. The kitchen hood system uses demand controls that vary exhaust volume based on the temperature difference between the exhaust air and the ambient room, preventing the hood from running unnecessarily at high speed when little or no cooking is taking place. Makeup air is provided by two small electric units and one large 92%-efficient gas unit that stage together, delivering 100% electric makeup air when the hood is in standby and approximately 10% electric / 90% gas when the hood is at high speed. Domestic hot water is provided by a 100-gallon condensing gas water heater. All systems were carefully designed to fit within available spaces, either out of sight or in alignment with the aesthetics of the architecture.

This project was awarded the Commercial New Construction — Commercial Resilience Champion at the Better Buildings by Design (BBD) conference in May 2026.

April and Ben are the owners of Farmer and the Bell. In this photo they are putting out some tasty donuts that are worth the trip. In the upper right of the photo, a heat pump wall head blends in with the busy kitchen environment.
The upstairs seating and event space has mechanical lofts at each gable end of the roof.
A single spiral duct traverses the second floor just below the roof collar ties.
The first floor seating area is conditioned by ductless heat pump wall heads. Their small size and white-on-white color keep them from drawing the eye.
The beautiful exposed wood structure of the second floor motivated the HVAC design decision to use heat pump wall heads, avoiding suspended ductwork that would clutter the ceiling and detract from the simplicity and pattern of the wood.
A small supply grille serves a nook in the upstairs seating area that does not draw the eye.
Mechanical systems were carefully designed in 3D to fit within a triangular mechanical loft space available while maintaining full service clearance from a central pull-down stair. The second floor air handler is visible on the left, and the two units on the right are the electric makeup air units.
The variable speed gas kitchen makeup air unit is tucked into a small mechanical loft on the north side of the event space. It's a tight fit, but doing so avoided the need to locate a makeup air unit outside at grade where it would be visible from Route 12.
The design was carefully developed in 3D using Revit to ensure everything fits, is serviceable, and maintains a clean, intentional appearance.
This 3D bird's-eye view peels back the building envelope to reveal all of the major mechanical equipment and its location within the building.
Mitsubishi air source heat pump outdoor units are not visible from the street.
Clean beautiful seating area without a single mechanical item to point out, by design.
East facade of Farmer and the Bell on Rt 12 in Woodstock, VT.
This open balcony has a destratification fan directly overhead to keep air well mixed between the two floors.
This project won the 2026 Commercial Resilience Champion award at the Efficiency Vermont's Better Buildings by Design Conference.

Farmer and the Bell

Woodstock, VT

April and Ben are the owners of Farmer and the Bell. In this photo they are putting out some tasty donuts that are worth the trip. In the upper right of the photo, a heat pump wall head blends in with the busy kitchen environment.

The upstairs seating and event space has mechanical lofts at each gable end of the roof.

A single spiral duct traverses the second floor just below the roof collar ties.

The first floor seating area is conditioned by ductless heat pump wall heads. Their small size and white-on-white color keep them from drawing the eye.

The beautiful exposed wood structure of the second floor motivated the HVAC design decision to use heat pump wall heads, avoiding suspended ductwork that would clutter the ceiling and detract from the simplicity and pattern of the wood.

A small supply grille serves a nook in the upstairs seating area that does not draw the eye.

Mechanical systems were carefully designed in 3D to fit within a triangular mechanical loft space available while maintaining full service clearance from a central pull-down stair. The second floor air handler is visible on the left, and the two units on the right are the electric makeup air units.

The variable speed gas kitchen makeup air unit is tucked into a small mechanical loft on the north side of the event space. It's a tight fit, but doing so avoided the need to locate a makeup air unit outside at grade where it would be visible from Route 12.

The design was carefully developed in 3D using Revit to ensure everything fits, is serviceable, and maintains a clean, intentional appearance.

This 3D bird's-eye view peels back the building envelope to reveal all of the major mechanical equipment and its location within the building.

Mitsubishi air source heat pump outdoor units are not visible from the street.

Clean beautiful seating area without a single mechanical item to point out, by design.

East facade of Farmer and the Bell on Rt 12 in Woodstock, VT.

This open balcony has a destratification fan directly overhead to keep air well mixed between the two floors.

This project won the 2026 Commercial Resilience Champion award at the Efficiency Vermont's Better Buildings by Design Conference.

Lacey Engineering, PLLC