Elevated Roots

In February 2020 I was introduced to Barznab Khan who was interested in updating an existing building in Kingston, MA. His vision was to create a fully vertically integrated cannabis facility inclusive of a dispensary, cultivation, and extraction/infusion for his new venture, Elevated Roots. 2WR / MJ12 Design Studio was engaged to provide AE services. As we developed the business model it became clear that the manufacturing component would need to be limited to very specific products to ensure the proper space for the dispensary and cultivation.

Based on the funding, the project was phased with development of the dispensary taking priority over the cultivation. In January 2021 the dispensary reached substantial completion and soon after was opened. Later that year, after the dispensary operations were running smoothly the focus turned to the cultivation / manufacturing portions of the building. Plans were developed, then modified, to align with updates to the vision including the budget, revenue forecasts, and operational needs. Veg was developed as triple-tier and mother as single tier. Flower includes both single and dual-tier rooms. The facility was designed to meet cGMP standards with a linear product flow. The mechanical system for the cultivation area is purpose-built DX, a DX system with integrated heating, cooling, and dehumidification.

In 2023 the facility was completed, and operations began. Now, a year later, the fruits (or flowers) of the team's work can be fully seen.

During the development of this project, I was a Senior Principal and Founding Partner of 2WR / MJ12. Beyond maintaining responsible control over project and document development, my direct responsibilities included programming, conceptual design, team coordination, and construction administrative services.