Farming Implement Museum
Lubbock, Texas
Fall 2004
Upon visiting the Implement Museum in Lubbock, Texas it was clear that a new facility was needed. The assignment was for each student to choose a piece of farming equipment in which to design a new facility to house vintage farming implements. The museum will house a conditioned collection of restored implements and an unconditioned collection of implements.
The implement I chose is a one-row crop seeder. This machine would be horse or tractor driven. The blade at the front creates a furrow while the wheel turns the mechanism which controls the seed and fertilizer hopper. Once the lever is engaged the hopper released a seen and fertilizer in the furrow with every rotation of the rear wheel. The wheel then packs earth on top of the seed finishing the job. I chose this piece of equipment because of its compact simplicity and efficient design.
The building is composed of 20’ bays which are shown in the plan detail. The bays are designated by a box truss which extends the width of the building and contains many of the building systems in keeping with the theme of this studio. Each truss holds and conceals the mechanical ductwork, electrical / lighting systems and fire safety equipment.
The box trusses also dictate the main circulation paths through the exhibits. As seen in the long section and section detail, the position of each truss is shifted up or down depending on where you are in the space. At the middle of an exhibit space the trusses will be at their highest level. Once you are at the end of an exhibit you met a truss at floor level which directs you in the circulation furrow and on to the next exhibit.