Brewery Basics

by Jonathan McGaha | May 1, 2016 12:00 am

A hybrid structure creates the perfect design for a craft brewer

The Crowley family started Stony Creek Brewery[1] in Branford, Conn., in 2010. The family created their own original recipes and outsourced the manufacturing to a contract brewer. In 2013, the family decided to build a new facility with room for its own brewing equipment.

Designed by architect Joseph T. Sepot[2], the goal for the facility, situated on the Branford River, was to create a popular destination for tastings, tours and special events. David A. DeMaio, president of the general contractor, Pat Munger Construction[3], Branford, says the project was completed in approximately 10 months.

The 30,000-square-foot brewery features a brew house, fermentation cellar, bottling, canning and cold storage, in addition to a 2,500-square-foot tasting room, and two outdoor decks overlooking the river. The tasting room has wall-length windows looking in on the bottle operation. Outside there’s a bocce court, electric car charging station, public air station for bicycle tires and a bike rack.

According to DeMaio, the architectural concept was to somewhat duplicate the style of manufacturing buildings that existed on the property-some of which still exist from the 1800s-the old-style factory building with a continuous clearstory through the ridge. “That’s what the main manufacturing and brewery was to look like in concept,” he says. And, since clear, tall open spaces were needed for the brewery equipment, DeMaio says a pre-engineered system made the most sense.

To create the desired building style, the project utilized a two-story hybrid building featuring conventional framing, structural steel, planking, masonry and a 30-foot-long wall of windows. Munger Construction installed a 14,700-square-foot pre-engineered steel building from Memphis, Tenn.-based Varco Pruden Buildings[4] for the manufacturing area, while the more public side, where the tasting room, bars, deck and celebration room is located, is structural steel with typical steel stud exterior walls, giving it a very New England coastal construction feel.

According to DeMaio, the two building systems came together quite nicely. “The building makes a huge architectural statement,” he says. “People are lingering there, they’re enjoying their time visiting and they’re really taking a good look at the work, the quality and the design.”

DeMaio says the project really showcases the abilities of the architectural and design staff. “It’s one of those
‘wow’ projects that really stand out and showcases the capabilities of the designer and contractor,” he says. “There are some great interior finishes and millwork. It’s really above and beyond the normal sheetrock and painted walls.”

“It’s been the talk of the town, everybody who goes there, marvels at it,” DeMaio adds.

Stony Creek Brewery, Branford, Conn.
Award: 2016 Hall of Fame winner in Agriculture from Varco Pruden Buildings
Architect: Joseph T. Sepot[2], Branford
General contractor: Pat Munger Construction[3], Branford
Erector: First Choice Builders, Terryville, Conn.
Exterior glass/glazing systems: Massey’s Plate Glass & Aluminum Inc., Branford, masseysglass.com[5]
Metal building system: Varco Pruden Buildings, Memphis, Tenn., www.vp.com[6]

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/brewery-basics/

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