In Tanzania, Community Forests International has worked to plant over 1.5 million trees for fruit, timber and conservation to date. CFI has built solar energy micro-grids and rainwater harvesting systems for entire small island communities, developed new regenerative agricultural techniques, and innovated new low-carbon household technologies. These successes have coalesced with the launch of the of the world’s first Rural Innovation Campus on Pemba Island, Zanzibar. The Rural Innovation Campus model has proven successful in promoting positive change abroad, and Community Forests International believes that by replicating the approach in New Brunswick it may serve as a catalyst for the creation of much needed regenerative solutions here at home as well. This design brief describes the vision for creating a Rural Innovation Campus in rural New Brunswick, Canada.

5. Since its inception in 2008, Community
Forests International (CFI) has been
providing rural communities around the
world with the tools they need to take
advantage of their unique strengths,
assets, and opportunities for grassroots
innovation. As recognized leaders in
regenerative solutions and community-
based climate change adaptation, the
organization’s approach begins with a
deep understanding of the social,
economic and environmental challenges
facing rural populations. Community
Forests International’s guiding vision
reflects these core values and a
commitment to fostering bottom-up
positive change through an empowering,
participatory framework:
"Together we change
the world. Through
shared challenges we
create opportunity…”

6. A Beginning,
in Tanzania
In Tanzania, Community Forests
International has worked to plant over
1.5 million trees for fruit, timber and
conservation to date. CFI has built solar
energy micro-grids and rainwater
harvesting systems for entire small island
communities. CFI has developed new
agricultural techniques and innovated
new low-carbon household technologies.
“…our communities
transform how we live
and work. We are all
leaders. We all
innovate. We work in
harmony with the natural
world. It’s not just our
responsibility,
it’s our potential.”
– CFI Vision Statement

7. These successes have coalesced with the launch of the of the world’s first Rural
Innovation Campus, a facility designed to scale up community adaptation and
ecologically-based rural enterprise regionally by fostering peer-to-peer innovation
and knowledge transfer. With support from the European Union, the Rural Innovation
Campus in Tanzania is now up and running, serving as an important platform for
positive change as rural communities around the world confront the challenges of a
changing climate, degraded natural resource base, and increasingly competitive
globalized marketplace.

8. Bringing the Lessons Home…
Founded and based in Sackville, New
Brunswick, Community Forests
International understands the unique
challenges facing Canada’s Atlantic
region. Rural Maritime communities must
diversify and enhance their local
economies to thrive in a changing
environment. Currently, however, our
communities lack a platform to both
create and capture emerging rural
opportunities. The Rural Innovation
Campus model has proven successful in
promoting positive change abroad, and
Community Forests International believes
that by replicating the approach in New
Brunswick it may serve as a catalyst for
the creation and dissemination of much-
needed regenerative solutions here at
home as well.

9. What a Canada Rural Innovation Campus
Means for CFI
The Canada Rural Innovation Campus will
allow CFI to change the conversation
surrounding the rural sphere and help shift
its course from one of decline to one of
regeneration. It will allow the organization to
engage and support the next wave of rural
entrepreneurs, serving as a vehicle for rural
innovation and prosperity. It will enable CFI
to build a community of problem solvers,
bridging the gap between innovative thinkers
and communities in need around the world.
“A Canada Rural
Innovation Campus will
provide the capacity and
foundation necessary for
Community Forests
International
to continue its growth as
an organization,
deepening and scaling
up its model of
positive change.”

10. As an important piece of
organizational and
community infrastructure,
the Rural Innovation
Campus will reflect CFI’s
progressive culture and versatile
program while drawing inspiration from
the region’s unique building traditions.

11. CFI’s prioritized design principles:
1. EMPLOYING BUILDING DESIGNS INTEGRAL TO THE SPECIFIC
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT
2. AIMING FOR A NET POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT :
ENERGY • WATER • CARBON • LIVEABILITY
3. EMPLOYING LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS (WHERE POSSIBLE,
MATERIALS SOURCED FROM SITE)
4. EXCELLENCE IN FACILITY PLANNING, EFFICIENCY AND
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
5. TRANSFERABLE FOR USE BY OTHERS
6. CONNECTIVITY AND BENEFICIAL OVERLAP OF FACILITIES
Additional, qualitative design concepts for the campus prioritized by
Community Forests International include:
• Fostering a community atmosphere that supports cross-discipline
collaboration among residents and a 'mingling' of people and ideas (eg.
continuity between spaces and activities)
• Accessible to all including constructive public access (connection to wider
community without undue disruption of onsite work flow)
• Creating an inspiring, immersive experience for guests which includes
exposure to an ecologically rich working landscape (eg. sustainable
forestry and agriculture), active lifestyle (eg. nature-based recreation) and
applied innovation (eg. new approaches to green building, renewable
energy generation, and food production in practice)
• Cultivating a human habitat that mimics the regenerative and dynamic
qualities of natural systems (eg. passive water, energy, and nutrient / waste
cycling; well-adapted to seasonal variations; resilience in the face of shock)

12. Rural Maritime communities lack a
critical platform to create their own
opportunity. Community Forests
International has a strong track-record of
serving as a catalysts for positive change
in this regard, but currently lacks the
capacity to scale up it’s regional impact.
The Rural Innovation Campus, a
purpose-built facility at the geographic
centre of New Brunswick devoted to
supporting innovation in rural livelihoods
and technologies, will provide the
platform for CFI and the communities it
supports to achieve rural prosperity.

13. Rural Innovation Campus Solution
Embracing innovation as well as time-honoured techniques, the Rural Innovation
Campus will host services and facilities critical to meeting the unique needs of rural
entrepreneurs. The campus will build a global network of rural communities and
innovators – fostering cross-discipline collaboration and preparing rural enterprises for
the future’s unique challenges and opportunities.
The campus program is designed to assist emerging innovators and groups in refining
their ideas via relevant workshops, residencies, partnerships, and incentive challenges.
CFI has already served as a launchpad for new rural products and technologies,
including forest carbon offsets and decentralized solar energy hardware. The Rural
Innovation Campus will allow CFI to formalize a platform for solution incubation, and
aggregate a host of mentors, instructors and stakeholders to help bridge the gap
between innovative thinkers and communities in need.
The Rural Innovation Campus program will be composed of public workshops,
hands-on apprenticeships in land-based livelihoods such as organic farming and
sustainable forestry, and a start-up acceleration.

14. Public Workshops
CFI regularly hosts hands-on public workshops covering a range of complimentary
topics including traditional land-based skills, ecological design, and natural building.
The Rural Innovation Campus will facilitate an expansion of this workshop curriculum
and allow CFI to service a broader demographic.
Apprenticeships
CFI has successfully hosted 6 long-term internships in organic farming and ecological
forestry to date, and will continue to expand this education model at the Rural
Innovation Campus. The internship program will immerse participants in real-life, full-
cycle innovation projects on- and off-site, including land use, ecological design,
renewable energy, social enterprise, and green building initiatives. Apprentices will gain
the experience, skills, and network support necessary to pursue related livelihood
activities in their own communities going forward, promoting widespread replication
and expansion of program successes.

15. Start-up Acceleration
The Rural Innovation Campus process for creating new start-ups will be based on a bi
annual programming cycle. One programming cycle per year will be devoted to an
annual Rural XPrize – a business solution and product design contest geared towards
meeting specific market opportunities. The remaining programming cycle will provide
accelerator opportunities to a broader range of start-ups through an open application
process called the Evolution Project.
Rural XPrize
Incentive prizes have grown from a relatively niche open innovation tool to a proven
innovation strategy for both the private and public sectors. They are now employed by
such diverse players as the White House and Google Inc. In 2014, Community Forests
International launched its own unique adaptation of the open innovation challenge with
a highly successful ‘Rural XPrize’ and now plans to expand this model as a core
program at the Rural Innovation Campus.

16. Can a building blur the lines between humans and nature?
CFI’s first Rural XPrize challenge focused on meeting the need for a tailored
sustainable cabin design for the fledgling Rural Innovation Campus. The event
exceeded all expectations by attracting a total of 57 entries from professional
teams located in 11 different countries. This level of engagement illustrates both
how connected the world has become, and the level of creativity that an open,
incentive-based competition can inspire.
CFI is now excited to harness the Rural XPrize model as a framework for
supporting innovators at the Rural Innovation Campus. The structure will allow
CFI to target all stages of the innovation chain, from ideation through
demonstration to mainstreaming and scaling up.

17. The Evolution Project
Community Forests International is building a suite of business development services
to equip the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools necessary to solve some of
our planet’s most pressing challenges. By partnering with organizations and institutions
such as the Pond-Deshpande Centre, Planet Hatch, The Mentra and the New
Brunswick Innovation Foundation, the Evolution Program will build on New Brunswick’s
unique business development ecosystem.
In 2014, the organization asked recent Dalhousie University Masters in Engineering
graduate, Sebastian Manchester, to develop a cost effective way to deliver solar energy
to a small, isolated island in the Indian Ocean. Since then, Sebastian has worked to
power over 400 homes through the development of a Portable Solar Micro-grid and
has incorporated Jaza Energy Inc. Community Forests International provided start-up
funding, travel support, and field support, in addition to a network that was able to
support the Maritime-based entrepreneur as he worked to pilot and perfect his
prototype in East Africa.
In 2013, Dale Prest, a recent graduate from St. Francis Xavier’s Masters in Earth
Science approached Community Forests International with the notion that carbon
offsetting could be used as a way to support sustainable forestry operation in Atlantic
Canada. CFI worked with Prest to pilot an offsetting framework on a property owned
by the organization and ultimately connected his efforts to clients and institutional
partners.
Community Forests International is looking forward to formalizing an approach to
business development which turns good ideas into viable enterprises. The Evolution
Program will be able to identify where participants stand in the innovation cycle, and
will create custom programming based on individual needs.

18. Timeline
The Rural Innovation Campus development plan spans three years beginning in the
summer of 2015. As described below, construction of the main campus facilities will be
carried out in complimentary phases. Accommodation is prioritized for construction in
Year 1 followed by educational facilities in Year 2. Innovation facilities make up the
largest building component and will be constructed in two phases spanning Years 2
and 3.
Site Information
The site is an awe-inspiring 240 hectare mixed farm and forest property situated near
they community of South Branch, New Brunswick and approximately ½ hour from both
the city of Moncton to the east and the town of Sussex to the west. It is located within
a forested upland valley at 2,593,372 meters easting and 7,415,708 meters northing
(UTM NAD 83 CSRS New Brunswick Stereographic).
Goal
Community Forests International aims to achieve a design solution for the Rural
Innovation Campus facilities which creatively accommodates the constraints of the
program, reflects the core principles and vision of the organization, and meets the
unique needs of the campus residents and curriculum.

19. History of the Land
This inland area of the Kennebecasis
River Valley has straddled Mi’kmaq and
Maliseet territory for thousands of years.
The traditional
dwelling of both
these peoples is a
portable wigwam
constructed using
softwood poles,
s p r u c e r o o t
lashing, and birch
bark sheathing.
T h e r e g i o n ’ s
s u b s e q u e n t
A c a d i a n
a r c h i t e c t u r a l
history includes
fi e l d s t o n e
foundations and
fi r e p l a c e s ,
thatched roofs,
dovetailed logs,
adzed half-timbers, and heavy timber
frames with cob infill walls. Early English
settlers introduced more log shanties,
timber frames, stone enders, and
saltboxes. Wood construction has
dominated in the region since the
mid-1700s due mainly to the local
abundance of forest products. More
recently the site has been home to
Whaelghinbran Farm. It’s founders, -
pioneers of organic agriculture and
ecological forestry - lived directly off the
land for over 40 years before Community
Forests International purchased the
property in 2012. The abundance of the
farmland and advanced ecological
restoration of the forestland at
Whaelghinbran are testaments of a
careful and forward thinking approach.
The Whaelghinbran model demonstrates
that it is possible to make a living from
the land while at the same time restoring
and preserving its ecological health. This
is an invaluable lesson for overcoming
the great economic and ecological
challenges facing rural communities
today – and in turn the Whaelghinbran
property provides the ideal setting for
CFI’s Rural Innovation Campus.

20. Location and Capacity of Utilities
Electricity: Grid electricity provided by NB Power is available onsite at secondary
supply voltages(nominal 120/240 volt, single phase, three wire). The operating ranges
are: normal (110/220 -125/250 volt) to extreme (106/212 - 127/254).
Information & Communications: Landline telephone service is available onsite.
Wireless service is currently very limited and high-speed broadband internet is
currently only available via satellite services.
Water & Sewage: There is no municipal supply of water and no municipal sewage
removal available onsite. All water must be supplied by onsite well or rainwater
harvesting and all waste water must be dealt with onsite. Solid Waste: Regional Service
Commission 8 provides solid waste removal services for the entire Kings County
including this site.

21. Access & Legislative Constraints
The site is accessed via a dirt road, approximately 1 km off of NB route 114 and
approximately 5 kms from NB route 1. Conditions of the dirt road are generally fair but
access is difficult during winter storms and throughout spring breakup (April-May).
The property is protected under a working land conservation easement held by the
New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT). New buildings may be erected onsite
subject to the approval of the Management Committee described in the easement.

22. Facility Requirements
The Rural Innovation Campus facility requirements can be categorized into the
following three distinct but complimentary building blocks: Block 1 – Living, Block 2 –
Learning, and Block 3 – Innovating. Due to the varied nature and differing physical
requirements of each of these component spaces, they will be dealt with separately in
the following sections. It is important to note that directly translating these functional
divisions into physically separate building envelopes is not a prerequisite of the design
solution, but it is an option. All buildings will aspire to be as energy-efficient and well-
insulated as possible, while incorporating features of passive solar gain and ventilation.
Further stratification of the facility requirements accompanies a 5, 10, and 30-year
phasing approach to the Rural Innovation Campus development. This design brief
refers specifically to the initial 5-year term requirements but subsequent 10 and 30 year
requirements are included for consideration. Where possible, design solutions that
accommodate future expansions are preferred.

23. Living Block
Dormitory-style infrastructure is envisioned to provide basic, short- and medium-term
accommodation for apprentices, resident innovators, and accelerator participants on
campus. This ‘Living Block’ should sleep a maximum of 15 guests and also provide for
a shared kitchenette, lounge space, toilet and shower, and two washer & dryer
combinations. In addition to this shared accommodation, the campus will include
private lodging in the form of ‘backwoods’ cabins. Personal cabins will offer a retreat-
like experience for deep-focus work and a balance to the communal nature of campus
living. Although retreat cabins are outside of the scope of this design brief, they are
mentioned here as an important consideration in the overall campus accommodation
plan.
REQUIREMENTS 5 YR 10YR 30YR
Space 120m2 160m2 160m2
Operating Schedule 24 Hours/Day
7 Days/Week
24 Weeks/Year
168 Days/Year
4032 Building Hrs/Year
24 Hours/Day
7 Days/Week
42 Weeks/Year
294 Days/Year
7056 Building Hrs/Year
Components sleeps 15
2 toilets
2 showers
2 washer & dryers
shared kitchenette &
lounge
sleeps 15
4 toilets
4 showers
4 washer & dryers
shared kitchenette
shared lounge
Adjacencies Relative proximity to both Block 2 & 3 in order to create a cohesive campus
experience.
Separations Separation from high traffic areas, loud machinery use or group
congregation spaces, and any activity that could potentially disrupt
dormitory privacy, peace & quiet
Zoning Private and off limits to the general public without invitation
Phasing Prioritized for construction in Year 1 in advance of the Learning and
Innovation Blocks.

24. Learning Block
Community Forests International has hosted approximately 50 hands-on workshops
and short-courses to date involving over 500 participants from across Atlantic Canada.
With the planned expansion of its educational infrastructure the organization
anticipates hosting approximately 200 students annually over the next 5 years. Annual
volume is projected to double by 2025 as the Rural Innovation Campus grows in
scope.
The majority of educational events will initially be single day workshops involving both
an indoor and outdoor component as well as a communal meal. Class sizes will be
capped at 20 participants but planning should anticipate an additional 10 users for
overflow as well as staff, instructors, and facilitators. In addition to educational
programming, the Learning Block will also be used for large public events such as
innovator pitch and trade shows, open farm days, and professional gatherings.
REQUIREMENTS 5YR 10YR 30YR
Space 183 m2 249.5 m2 275 m2
Operating Schedule 11.5 Hours/Day
5 Days/Week
26 Weeks/Year
130 Days/Year
1495 Building Hrs/Year
11.5 Hours/Day
5 Days/Week
42 Weeks/Year
210 Days/Year
2415 Building Hrs/Year
11.5 Hours/Day
5 Days/Week
52 Weeks/Year
260 Days/Year
2990 Building Hrs/Year
Components 20 classroom seating
30 food prep & dining
2 toilets
2 showers
produce storage
20 classroom seating
45 food prep & dining
4 toilets
4 showers
1.5x produce storage
20 classroom seating
50 food prep & dining
4 toilets
4 showers
2x produce storage
Adjacencies Relative proximity to both Block 1 & 3 in order to create a cohesive campus
experience. Preferred access to parking to accommodate high pubic
circulation.
Separations As the most ‘public’ area of the campus, the Learning Block requires a degree
of separation from the more private Living & Innovating Blocks. Separation
from loud machinery use and any activity that could potentially disrupt learning
environment also required.
Zoning Accessible to general public during regular hours
Phasing Constructed in Year 1 following the Living Block with possible carry-over to
Year 2. Constructed in advance of the Innovation Block.

25. Innovation Block
Fostering innovation is central to the vision and program of the Rural Innovation
Campus. Residents will be enrolled in a tailored curriculum of training and acceleration
enriched by onsite facilities, including an innovator’s hub and fabrication lab (fab-lab).
Formal mentorship from leading practitioners and exposure to a wide range of hands-
on activities designed to cultivate multidisciplinary thinking will provide the ingredients
necessary to bring good ideas into reality. The Innovation Block is the largest and most
diverse component of the Rural Innovation Campus. To support interdisciplinary
activities throughout all stages of the innovation chain - from ideation to ‘proof of
concept’ to scale – it must be flexible in nature. The primary areas of the Innovation
Block will include: a staff and innovators’ office hub, a small dry lab, and a larger
fabrication lab which will serve as a ‘maker’ or ‘hacker’ space as well as a machine
shop. In the long-term, additional facilities including a wet lab and wood shop are
anticipated.
REQUIREMENTS 5YR 10YR 30YR
Space 230.4 m2 314.8 m2 317.2 m2
Operating Schedule 11.5 Hours/Day
5 Days/Week
26 Weeks/Year
130 Days/Year
1495 Building Hrs/Year
11.5 Hours/Day
5 Days/Week
42 Weeks/Year
210 Days/Year
2415 Building Hrs/Year
11.5 Hours/Day
5 Days/Week
52 Weeks/Year
260 Days/Year
2990 Building Hrs/Year
Components 5 staff workstations
1 admin office
100 m2 maker space
66 m2 machine shop
10 innovator’s cubicles
16 m2 dry lab
5 person locker
10 staff workstations
2 admin offices
100 m2 maker space
66 m2 machine shop
10 innovator’s cubicles
16 m2 dry lab
5 person locker
10 m2 wet lab
60 m2 wood shop
10 staff workstations
3 admin offices
100 m2 maker space
66 m2 machine shop
10 innovator’s cubicles
16 m2 dry lab
5 person locker
10 m2 wet lab
60 m2 wood shop
Adjacencies Relative proximity to both Block 1 & 2 in order to create a cohesive campus
experience. Preferred access to parking to accommodate delivery/shipping
large equipment and products
Separations As the loudest and most hazardous area of the campus, the Innovation Block
requires a degree of separation from the Living & Learning Blocks.
Zoning Generally treated as a place of work but open to the public on a structured
basis.
Phasing Constructed in two phases over Year 2 & 3 following completion of Living and
Learning Blocks.