Cannabis

by Parker Snyder

In recent years, demand for cannabis has soared, expanding the need for grow and cultivation greenhouses, vertically integrated facilities, and dispensaries. This cutting-edge industry requires equally as innovative design and construction solutions. Grow operations, production processes, space ratios, as well as permitting and zoning requirements are all elements that should be explored in the earliest stages of construction to ensure that a cannabis facility is designed and constructed in the most functional and cost-effective manner. Partnering with an experienced contractor that is actively engaged throughout the project will result in a superior finished product and the very best customer experience.

With experience building cannabis cultivation, process, distribution, and retail facilities nationwide, ARCO is expertly capable of providing valuedriven solutions for our customers’ needs. For instance, we are currently constructing a cultivation facility featuring a climate-controlled greenhouse with an integrated horticultural control and dehumidification system that allows for automated, programmable activation of lighting, HVAC, light deprivation, roof vents, irrigation components, etc. Whether it’s a new, state-of-the-art grow facility or the conversion of an existing space into a medical marijuana dispensary, ARCO’s team of experts have the knowledge and experience to bring our cannabis clients’ ideal facility to life, regardless of complexity or scale.

Cannabis facilities each require unique specifications, and understanding the processes of crop growth, cultivation, extraction, post-processing, consumables manufacturing, and quality assurance testing is essential to designing an efficient facility. Improper ratios of space, irrational flow, and a flawed system design can adversely impact overall productivity and efficiency. Design factors such as the number of plants per square foot, height of plants at harvest, and irrigation methods should all be considered. Additionally, grow room conditioning plays a major role in the mechanical design of a facility. Whether or not a space has CO2 supplementation or natural ventilation, the type of lighting on the canopy, and the number of grow room tiers can all affect the functionality, design, and budget of a cannabis facility. Collaboration between the design team,

ARCO cannabis cultivation facility under construction

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Bridgewater, MA – Dacon Corporation has completed construction of a 23,500sf facility for Theory Wellness, an East Coast cannabis brand with operations in Maine and Massachusetts.

From seed to sale, Theory cultivates small-batch, craft cannabis for recreational and medical customers in Massachusetts that is produced in its Bridgewater facility. It offers approximately 60 inhouse products spanning flowers, edibles, concentrates, extracts, tinctures and topicals to supply its retail stores in Great Barrington, Chicopee and Bridgewater.

The new facility was created in response to evolving business needs in the form of product innovation and development. The most recent innovation, Hi5, is a cannabis-infused seltzer that offers a controllable new way to consume cannabis. These innovations are supported by a futuristic facility designed by Dacon. “Versus other facilities I’ve been through, Dacon’s work balances masterful technology with functional usage of the space that’s aimed at generating best-inclass results,” says Thomas Winstanley, VP of marketing for Theory.

The facility encompasses all of the growing needs of a modern cannabis brand. It was developed with a range of cultivation rooms that accommodate both flowering and vegetative plants. All are uniquely designed to ensure consistent environmental light cycles, humidity controls, modern indoor agricultural watering and nutrient delivery systems.

Within the same facility lies a modern extraction laboratory for concentrates, a production area for edibles that includes a premium chocolate line, and a custom space for the automated canning line to produce Hi5. Says Winstanley, “The level of sophistication necessary requires a symphony of technology. We took the opportunity to create a new facility that combined a breadth of learnings around manufacturing and cultivation, consumer product demand and emerging technology.”

Kevin Quinn, Dacon’s CEO, shares, “With their high-performance culture, Theory is committed to the science of cannabis to offer its clients optimal expertise, attention and product intelligence. Their dedication to premium standards, environmentalism and social equity is a unique reflection of both business values and attributes of success.”

Theory Wellness’ new cannabis cultivation facility