RE Farm Café at Windswept Farm: A Green Building Turned Systemic Transformation
What began as a green building project—an off-the-grid, LEED certified, farm-to-table restaurant on a working farm—quickly evolved into something much bigger. The RE Farm Café at Windswept Farm is more than just a café; it’s a systemic transformation of regional food production and consumption. Thanks to the persistence of owners Duke and Monica, and a co-discovery process with key stakeholders, the project aligned deeply around its Purpose and community effects. Years of regenerative thinking and design effort cultivated this unique café nested in a farm, which itself is nested in a community and a regional food system. It’s a beautiful example of how a project can “do less harm” and actually regenerate.
Main Benefits of the RE Farm Café Project
Here’s what makes this project stand out:
- Off-the-grid operation with LEED certification
- Farm-to-table restaurant model embedded in a working farm
- Systemic transformation of regional food production and consumption
- Strong stakeholder alignment around meaningful community outcomes
- Years of regenerative design and thinking invested
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Center for Sustainable Landscapes
Phipps Conservatory is known as the “most energy efficient conservatory in the world,” and their Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) takes that commitment to a whole new level. This education, research, and administration facility was designed using an integrative approach to maximize efficiency and sustainability. The result? CSL earned “living” status under the Living Building Challenge (LBC), LEED NC v2.2 Platinum certification, WELL Building Platinum certification, and four stars under the SITESTM 2009 landscape rating system. It’s the first and only project to meet all four of these top green certifications, and it was named a Top Ten Green Project of 2016 by AIA COTE.
Unique Certifications and Integrative Design Approach
The CSL project showcases how an integrative design process can push the boundaries of sustainability. By combining technical practice with regenerative thinking, the project not only meets but exceeds expectations. The certifications it holds speak volumes about its impact:
- Living Building Challenge (LBC) “living” status
- LEED NC v2.2 Platinum certification
- WELL Building Platinum certification
- Four stars under SITESTM 2009 landscape rating
- AIA COTE Top Ten Green Project of 2016
The Willow School Campus: Where Education Meets Ecology
“Excellence, Education, Ethics, and Ecology” — that’s the mantra at The Willow School. This small, independent coeducational day school serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade and is deeply committed to blending academic excellence with the joy of learning through nature. Nestled on a 34-acre wooded site in rural New Jersey, the campus itself is a living classroom. The building and its surroundings aren’t just backdrops—they’re integral to the curriculum. Kids study connections between math, literature, history, and the natural world, observing ecosystem patterns and cycles, and learning how to sustain a thriving environment. It’s education with a heart and a purpose.
Regenerative Practice and Community Engagement
All these projects share a common thread: a commitment to regenerative practice and community vitality. They don’t just aim to reduce harm—they seek to heal cultural wounds and transform whole systems. By aligning stakeholders around meaningful outcomes and focusing on place-sourced metrics, these initiatives actualize deeper potential within teams and communities. It’s about regenerating system health and capacity, not just ticking boxes.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – through sustainable food systems at RE Farm Café
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – promoting healthy environments and lifestyles
- SDG 4: Quality Education – The Willow School’s nature-integrated curriculum
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – sustainable water management in projects
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – off-grid and energy-efficient designs
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – fostering community vitality
- SDG 13: Climate Action – regenerative practices reducing environmental impact
- SDG 15: Life on Land – preserving and enhancing ecosystems and biodiversity
Integrative Process and Regenerative Thinking: The Core of These Projects
What ties these projects together is their unique combination of integrative process, technical practice, and regenerative thinking. The integrative process is the only way to galvanize efforts with a regenerative aim. Technical practice ensures that analysis is embedded within a goal-oriented process that integrates value. And regenerative thinking? That’s the promise of reintegrating nature’s patterns into all human practice—because the future depends on it. These projects don’t just build structures or programs; they cultivate living systems that co-evolve with their communities and environments.
