A packed house at Trillium Mutual Insurance on Thursday for the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre Annual General Meeting.
The meeting looked over the planning that has gone into the centre and things going on over the past year including welcoming prospective architects to visit North Perth, explore the area and see the vision of the centre.
With over 40 architects looking at the idea, it was Moriyama Teshima Architects who will head the project who during the meeting shared insight into the newly developed concept designs.
Moriyama is taking a unique approach to the Agri-Food Discovery Centre, making a facility to support sustainability and zero carbon performance while offering a unique green roof style to attract attention.
Steve Dolson, Chair of the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre says they’ll have much work ahead for the spring and summer.
“We’re working on the experience planning, fundraising strategy and feasibility study all of which need to be done before we start the capital campaign. We’ll put out RFP’s to consultant firms that are skilled in those areas to help us, this is a big project we don’t expect to have the capabilities to raise $50 plus million dollars just by ourselves.” said Dolson.
While there is still work to be done before the launch of a capital campaign and eye $50 million, Dolson adds the number might be high but something very capable to bring to Listowel.
“A year ago people could say ‘oh well that’s a pipedream’ well actually no it’s not a pipedream it’s just a matter of what we can do. The recent build in Stratford in the theatre area was a $70 million or so project and they raised over $100 million and we would hope that the AG and food industry will get behind this project.”