Cannabis Construction

Why cannabis construction deserves specialist attention

Construction of a cannabis facility involves unique challenges.  These include the coordination and installation of high-tech HVAC systems to control humidity and temperature, dehumidification, clean and dirty-zone separation, heavy electrical and mechanical loads, security infrastructure, cultivation systems and equipment which include water treatment, fertigation, environmental controls, air-movement, and plant benching systems, and compliance with cGMP, WHO-GACP, EU-GMP or other regulatory standards. Without specialist oversight, a facility may run over budget, operate inefficiently, or fail to meet operational metrics.

3rd Act brings over 40-years of construction and architectural knowledge and experience.  Cannabis specific, 3rd Act’s Sam Andras has developed 150+ cannabis facility designs since 2013 with projects ranging in size from 1,500 to 1.8M sq ft.

How 3rd Act supports your cannabis construction project

3rd Act Architecture and Consulting provide a multitude of services aimed at helping clients succeed in design and construction.  These services include:

• Design-Builder: A turnkey delivery approach utilizing a proven integrated roadmap to success. 

  Serving clients as a design-builder, 3rd Act brings the design and construction teams together under a singular owner contract (AIA A141-2014). The design-builder agreement focuses on the development of the client’s defined vision through an integrated delivery process.

• Project Implementation Assistance: Strategic support in project planning aimed a defining the right project delivery methodology.  Support during project delivery to ensure objectives are met efficiently.

• Owner’s Representative Services & Peer Review: Acting for the owner, overseeing contractors, reviewing design and construction documents, controlling quality, schedule, and budget.

• Architectural Cost Opinions: Utilizing ACO’s to evaluate contractor pricing as an alignment tool.

• Value Engineering: Advise on value engineering options and the pros / cons of each.

By integrating these services, 3rd Act helps bridge the gap between “I have a building” and “I have a functioning cannabis facility built for purpose”.

Construction Best-Practices for Cannabis Facilities

To maximize ROI and operational efficiency in a cannabis construction build-out, keep these tips front-of-mind:

• Define Scope early: Begin construction only after the construction documents have been vetted to validate the layout, mechanical loads, workflow, system, equipment, and code requirements are properly aligned to the vision.

• Select the right delivery model: Whether Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CM/GC, or Developer-Turnkey, your choice will impact risk, cost, schedule, and control. 3rd Act has published blogs on choosing the right delivery methodology.  Additionally, Sam Andras’s book, “Building Design and Construction: An Architect’s Perspective”, published by Wiley and Sons, also outlines approaches to selecting the right delivery methodology.

• Control cost and schedule: Ensure alternates are utilized for cost control, maintain schedule milestones, properly evaluate value engineering, and include peer reviews ensure a vision aligned solution while keeping construction on track. The difference between a good facility and an excellent one often comes down to disciplined execution.

Construction in the cannabis sector demands more than traditional industrial build-outs—it demands precision, regulatory awareness, integration of complex systems and an eye to long-term operation. Partnering with a firm like 3rd Act Architecture and Consulting gives you the experience and focus you need to transition from contractor budgets to high-yield operations built for success. Whether you’re building greenfield or converting an older facility, the right construction strategy is your foundation for growth.