The Allegheny Highlands Agricultural Center
Allegheny County, Virginia

Project Owner:  The Highland Center 
http://www.thehighlandcenter.org/                

Services Provided: Preliminary Engineering, Final Design

ACS DESIGN provided full design services for The Alleghany Highlands Agricultural Center, “a multi-use agricultural center” that is being built near the Town of Monterey, Virginia. The Center will house an abattoir, a meat processing facility, a multi-purpose space, loading dock, scales, animal holding pens and associated parking on a six-acre site. In providing professional design services for the Concept Master Plan, Site Plan, Water and Sewer System Design, and Building Design, ACS worked closely with The Highland Center, a 501(c) 3 organization whose mission is “to serve all citizens of Highland County by being a catalyst for cultural and economic development, and to preserve an historic landmark as a symbol of unity and pride for [their] community”. Planned and constructed in order to “…enhance the economic vitality of the region and address the unique needs of its rural community…” the Agricultural Center project documents required review and approval from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Highland County Health Department, the Highland County Building and Zoning Department, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Department of Health. Site work is nearly complete for this facility and it is expected that building construction will be on-going throughout 2009.

ACS DESIGN was very excited to be awarded this extremely important project that will most likely form the nucleus of similar developments across Virginia. In examining the Highland Agriculture Center in closer detail, it is readily evident that the concept of a locally funded, locally constructed, and locally operated multi-use agricultural center represents a fundamental change in how the world economy should conduct business.  The idea of “grow it local, buy it local, and consume it local” will on all accounts significantly reduce energy and financial costs associated with transporting agricultural and food stocks over large distances.  Additional benefits will include the ability to be locally self sufficient and insulated from spikes in energy and food process while providing an opportunity to increase local awareness and education of how agriculture and the environment are intrinsically intertwined.  ACS DESIGN foresees the Highland Agriculture Center as a prototype model that, once established and operating, will witness tremendous interest from the rest of the Commonwealth of Virginia and probably beyond.