Capital Roots

MJ teamed with LEAP Architecture to design a 17,000-sq. ft. education center for Capital Roots, featuring classrooms, an incubator kitchen, community resource rooms, event spaces, restrooms, and an expanded market. This facility aims to support education, community activities, and local commerce.

Capital Roots is a nonprofit organization focused on improving food security and community health. They provide fresh food access through community gardens, urban farming, and educational programs. Their Urban Grow Center serves as a hub for community engagement and resource distribution, promoting a sustainable and vibrant local food system in the Capital Region.

The new incubator kitchen is designed for food-based startups, offering 24/7 access to a commercial kitchen, connections with local farmers, and business mentorship from the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region. This initiative supports small businesses and local economic growth.

The expanded Good Food Market provides the neighborhood with fresh, local, and affordable produce, addressing the issue of food deserts and promoting community health.

MJ led the structural design, including the superstructure and foundation systems. The building's design features a mix of structural materials to match the existing building, with a pre-engineered steel building on the north side, a conventional steel-framed community hub in the northwest corner, and a wood-framed market structure on the west side.