Design-build renovation project on Putnam County's owned 199 acre farm to create the County’s first public institute for career education called Tilly Foster Farm Educational Institute. Building #8 renovation project transformed an existing 6,000 Sq Ft building to a 11,200 Sq Ft building with a budget of +/- $ 1.2 million. If include the entire site improvements consisting of septic, water, electrical, road, and landscaping then was +/- $ 2.2 million.

Building #8 is a mixed-use facility being used for the Educational center for Culinary Arts Training and Bioscience Education for Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, an event space, and a restaurant. At the Ribbon Cutting event, Cathy Balestreri, BOCES Tech Center Director, said “the attention to detail, the marrying of function and aesthetics, were impressive and went beyond expectations.” In addition, the renovation includes a County owned restaurant called Tilly’s Table which provides farm-to-table dining featuring local farmer produce. Putnam County’s Tilly Foster Farm Educational Institute not only provides diverse educational experiences, but self-sustaining opportunities for local tourism, community gatherings, and cultural events.

Putnam County used Building #8 to start a new concept in design and architecture for future construction and planning for county municipalities. The project involved many County departments and the County’s facilities work force did all the construction except for specific areas such as the kitchen exhaust hood system that was bid out for contractor work. The existing building required major infrastructure updates including new additions for updated bathrooms and kitchen requirements. Site updates of utilities, road, and landscaping was also done by County work force.

The 11,200 SF building is divided into two levels with the restaurant on the main level and an assembly space in the basement. The building has modern elements like LED lighting with nostalgic exposed existing wood structural elements. Energy efficient elements are used throughout the building such as in the kitchen equipment and HVAC items. Joining of farm feel with craftsman details, the building adds wood millwork details, earth tones, and complementary style details like exterior metal lighting, lap siding, and a cover front porch for a typical farm appearance.