Square Roots

Cities around the world are growing at a fast pace and becoming more dense in population. Individuals are localizing themselves in urban environments for multiple reasons, leaving land unused. Studies show that “by the year 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.8 billion with 80% concentrated in cities.” This rapid population growth creates an unbalanced approach to this new urbanization, and in order to achieve stability, we must begin to think differently. The goal of this thesis is to focus on reviving vacant and neglected industrial parks into vertical farms through architecture and community relationships. In doing so, this will provide easy access to organic and nutritional food for surrounding communities. People will also become more educated on food production, knowing what goes into the process of growing such crops. Square Roots is home to a large production zone for vertical farming, farming education, and strong community engagement. Programming the site as a “food hub” will breathe life back into the previously deteriorating area, restoring the existing buildings. Square Roots sets the precedent for bringing the garden to the machine, or the vertical farm to the city.