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Now you need a barn cat to help control the mice

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If I were in your shoes, I'd put the stairs to the 2nd floor so they put you in the center of the room when you get to the top of the stairs. That way, you can run all the way around the room without lift bridges/ducking under the benchwork.

Nice barn! Personally, I think Id get some pink foam insulation board to insulate the rafters/ walls, and save some for realistic foam board scenery. They make great looking hills, and mountains for the layout. Just my 2 cents.

Well, definitely going to finish the top room, but the stairs are set.

Plan for a lift out bridge or other access to the inside of the layout. Actually build it when you get older and need it.

Some of my basic brainstorming.

As others have mentioned, I'm a little concerned about your stairs too. Best to avoid 90 degree turns if at all possible. Hopefully you will be there a long time to enjoy and grow your layout. Lots of potential but you might reconsider the placement and move them to the center as a little extra work now will certainly pay BIG dividends later when it would be much more difficult to do so.

For sure I'd insulate not only the walls and ceiling, but also under the floor.  Also, now's the time to consider climate control for the area.  I don't know your area of the country, but if it's more temperate there, maybe one of the Mini Split Air Conditioners, models come that are both heat and A/C, perfect for all seasons.  They're the easiest to install for a large room, and being high up on the wall, they won't interfere with any layout plans.   I have roughly 1,000 sq/ft here, and my 18,000 BTU unit works sell.  I'm in a basement, so that helps.  For a room like yours, you'll have to size it based on the climate and the actual room size.  The room looks to be roughly 28 x 16, so 450 sq/ft.

Absolutely,

The plan is to finish the upstairs and use a heat pump type wall unit for HVAC. The stairs are fixed as this is a functional barn with a tractor stored on the first floor