The Urban Grow Center is the new headquarters and regional food hub for Capital Roots, an organization in Troy, NY that aims to reduce the impact of poor nutrition on public health in New York’s Capital Region. The organization repurposed a vacant factory building on an abandoned block in a food desert neighborhood that has the highest poverty rates in Troy. The location was selected to demonstrate how sustainable redevelopment could spark community revitalization. Resulting from genuine community planning that engaged local constituents and artists, the Urban Grow Center serves as a significant neighborhood asset and offers a supportive workplace environment for employees and volunteers. Pedestrian access to the site is facilitated through specially designed crosswalks, street trees, planters, and benches. Inside the building, visitors can access an affordable produce market, while community meeting rooms serve as a civic resource for a range of local programming, such as after school youth farm programs, cooking lessons, and wellness classes. Since opening, ripples of neighborhood activity have spread outward from the site, sparking increased development potential.

Photo courtesy of Capital Roots

Project: The Urban Grow Center
Location: Troy, NY
Type: Workplace/Community space/Market
Size: 14,000 SQ FT
Project Partners:  
Project Lead/Client: Capital Roots
Architect: Envision Architects of Albany, NY