One of Weber Thompson’s vertical farming projects: Eco•Laboratory

In Spring of 2011, Weber Thompson will host a series of multi-disciplinary charrettes to investigate the challenges associated with integrating commercial food growing with private development. Supported by recent conceptual design work such as the Eco-laboratory and Newark Vertical Farm, and bolstered by government initiatives such as the Seattle Urban Agriculture Ordinance (#123378), the firm will invite experts and stakeholders in sustainable building, engineering, business, and agriculture to attempt to answer these questions, and more:

• What is a viable business model around building-integrated agriculture?
• What are the financial, social and environmental values in this building type?
• What might a pilot project in Seattle look like?

Stay tuned for findings from these charrettes in late 2011.