Mission Driven: Capital Roots Urban Grow Center

LEAP designs superior buildings to enhance businesses’ visions. We help great organizations make the world a better place.

LEAP is honored to lead the design team for Phase 2 of the Capital Roots Urban Grow Center in Troy, NY. This is a 32,000 ft² expansion, which includes NET-Zero greenhouses, a community accessible commercial kitchen, and facilities for job-readiness training.

Capital Roots Urban Grow Center, Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Urban Grow Center is quite an ambitious project, both in the breath and depth. It’s spread over 2 full city blocks and includes the design and construction of:

  • Hydroponic greenhouses for four season food production and training
  • A multi-use building with a shared use incubator kitchen
  • Several community resource and outreach rooms (for teaching and training)
  • Indoor and outdoor event spaces
  • Marketplace for residents to purchase fresh, local produce at reduced cost

The incubator kitchen has been designed for food-based, start-up companies to have 24/7 access to a commercial kitchen space, connect with local farmers and receive business mentor-ship from the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region. The greenhouses and community rooms will serve hard to employ adults by training them through their Greenhouse-based job readiness program. The expanded Produce Market will provide the neighborhood with a variety of fresh, local and affordable produce, to what is otherwise a food desert.

Sustainable technologies include solar generation and water heating, runoff reduction, water reuse, permeable pavers, green roofs and LED lighting.