How Legalized Cannabis is Affecting the AEC Industry

On February 2nd, medical marijuana was legalized in Mississippi, becoming the 37th state to embrace the cannabis industry in the United States. Despite federal prohibition, the cannabis industry has boomed over the past several years. In fact, sales in the cannabis space are estimated to reach $30 billion in 2022, a tell-tale sign that both public and corporate support for the substance remains momentous. 

With the marijuana industry’s emergence from the shadows of the law, the architecture, engineering, and general contracting fields are now well-positioned to embrace legalization and give cannabis retail a much-needed makeover. Let’s take a look at how various sectors of the A|E|C industry are embracing cannabis legalization:

MEP Design

The cultivation of marijuana takes place primarily indoors due to higher crop yield and greater control of environmental variables. Commercial grow houses are designed for a specific atmosphere to grow perfect cannabis plants. This optimum atmosphere requires extreme specification and management over humidity, temperature, air circulation, and CO2 levels. Thus, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) design is crucial in cannabis cultivation facilities’ ability to develop a superior product.

Several MEP firms have already embraced the growing cannabis industry and have established themselves as subject matter experts in the field. Firms like Urban-Gro, Winston Engineering, Root Engineers, and 15,000Inc are developing plant-centric approaches to their project methodologies to take advantage of the explosive growth of the cannabis market. 

Additionally, as the cannabis industry continues to transition from an illicit market to a lucrative, regulated one, a rise in technological innovations will begin to transform the farming landscape. From water-content sensors and advanced LED lighting to automated climate control systems; these cultivation innovations will drive down costs, decrease risks, and increase yields. 

Design-Build

As cannabis industry owners and investors compete to capture early market share, selecting the right contractor to partner with is vital to their success. Founded in 2018, Grow America Builders is a full-service design/build firm specializing in designing and constructing dispensaries, labs, extraction rooms, craft grow houses, cultivation facilities, and greenhouse centers. It’s not just existing cannabis specialized firms that are taking advantage of the “Green Wave.” In 2015, Illinois-based contractor, Mosaic Construction, launched an entire division devoted to cannabis design-build services named Cannabis Facility Construction (CFC). CFC offers cradle to grave dispensary and cultivation facility design and construction management solutions.

Architecture

When medical marijuana was first legalized, the design aesthetics of dispensary facilities were far from a priority. Rather, dispensary owners were focused on getting their product into consumers’ hands and avoiding legal issues with the federal government. With 75% of the nation’s states now embracing legalized cannabis, we are beginning to see a whole new commercial industry emerge around the sales and marketing of legal marijuana. 

With this industry emergence underway, a new category of specialized architects has arisen; cannabis architects. Cannabis architects are setting out with a mission of elevating society’s perceptions of cannabis users and helping owners navigate the many nuances of the cannabis design space. Firms such as MerJArchitecture, Harka, Anderson Porter Design, and MJ12 Design Studio are establishing themselves as pioneers in the marijuana design field. Commercial grow room design is a complex process that requires expertise in maneuvering through the regulatory environment and closely coordinating between disciplines. From zoning, licensing, site planning, and master planning to schematic design, design development, and construction administration, the need for expertise is evident. The aforementioned firms have developed expert fluency in navigating the various design challenges of the cannabis retail industry. 

Interior Design

Barbary Coast Dispensary

Gone are the days of drab, patchouli-scented, discrete head shops featuring blacked-out windows, tie-dye posters, white folding chairs, and bulletproof glass display cases. With legalization, a wave of high-end, boutique dispensaries have popped up across legal cities, driving demand for interior designers specialized in marijuana retail design. In fact, some interior design firms have already started to embrace this new demand and brand themselves as cannabis design gurus. Some of these firms include  SevenPoint Interiors, High Road Design Studio, CLC Design Studio, and SunGrown Studio. 

Commune

The transformation of the “head shop” as we once knew it, is exemplified through the design aesthetics of Commune. Commune is a high-end dispensary in Los Angeles for the brand Serra, featuring inviting floor-to-ceiling windows, chic cement tile floors, globe light fixtures, accent walls clad in oak, and potted plants. The design, meant to mimic an upscale jewelry store, was done by OMFGCo and JHL Design. Barbary Coast Dispensary, a San Francisco-based cannabis retail store looks more like a swanky, upscale speakeasy or cigar house rather than a dispensary. The space features tufted leather chairs, mahogany wood, subtle greenery, and spacious Persian rugs that exude upscale comfort. As legalization continues to spread and the cannabis retail industry continues to blossom, differentiation among retailers’ spaces will become a driving factor in brand expansion and market capture.

As the Green Rush continues to permeate throughout the A|E|C industry, more and more cannabis specialist firms will likely arise. Interested in staying up to date with the latest A|E|C industry trends and news? Sign up for the Building Hire Newsletter here.