Metzer Farms

Metzer Farms is a unique project type involving the receiving, incubation, and hatching of duck eggs. The priority of the owner was to design a building maximizing efficiency in the process of receiving the duck eggs, incubating, hatching, and shipping the hatched ducklings to families and farms across the country. Metzer Farms began in California and opened a second location in Memphis due to its proximity to FedEx and the ease of shipping. Therefore, the building design is driven by function and efficiency of the process with logistical management and clear circulation. Within the building, Metzer houses sophisticated equipment necessary to control the incubation and hatching of eggs where temperature, humidity, and the movement of eggs is critical. Once the ducks hatch from the eggs, they are then prepped, boxed, and shipped to their new families that same day.

Offices are included in the program and placed at the front of the building to address customers visiting the facility. All production spaces are positioned behind the office front and arranged to facilitate the circular process of receiving, hatching, and shipping. The building is a simple, gable-shaped structure of uniform color, gray and white. It is clad in corrugated metal with the narrow end accented with horizontal shiplap siding. Additionally, on the front of the building, an overhang and glazing are designed to provide a degree of transparency into and out of the building. The bulk of the interior wall and ceiling finishes are polypropylene panels which allow the entire interior of the building to be cleaned with open water spray.