Duke Farms Foundation

Duke Farms consists of 2,700 acres with buildings, woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and farmland that seeks to model the best practices of environmental stewardship through environmental sustainability and bio-friendly energy consumption. One of the goals of the project was to demonstrate knowledge of sustainable techniques for buildings and landscapes, and manage the land for healthy, sustainable biodiversity.

As the strategic real estate advisor for the Duke Farms Foundation (DFF), Jonathan Rose Companies assisted Duke Farms with a multi-year renovation and landscape restoration project. Duke Farms’ mission is to create an inspirational model for environmental stewardship.

Access to the property by carbon-emitting vehicles is limited to a single road and parking area. To tour the property the public walks, bicycles or takes alternative fuel vehicles. A dramatic reduction in conditioned space – from 350,000 square feet to approximately 70,000 square feet – was made possible by focusing new landscape improvements on native species that require no conditioning and eliminated the need for pesticides and other non-organic measures.

The Farm Barn and Orchid Range (orientation and education buildings) were designed to a LEED Platinum standard and the historic Coach Barn and landscape was be designed to a LEED Gold standard.