'2/7).' 0/7%2 6%24)#!, &!2“ I believe it is our privilege and duty to create an urban agricultural training and demonstration site that directly reflects our commitment to sustainability and that will serve as a model for other programs throughout the country.” !"## $##%&, '()&*%+ $&* ,%(, -+( !"&- .(!%+
In 1993, Growing Power was an organization with teens who needed
Growing Power into a national training center for activists in the
a place to work. Will Allen was a farmer with land. Will designed a
community food movement, a research institution to create food
program that offered teens an opportunity to work at his store and
production models that can be exported internationally, and, most
renovate the greenhouses to grow food for their community. With a
recently, a pioneer in alternative energy production testing a process
staff of 35, Growing Power feeds more than 10,000 locals each year
to convert food waste into methane gas to produce electricity.
through school kitchens, restaurants, affordable food baskets, and at farmers’ markets. What started as a simple partnership to change the landscape of the north side of Milwaukee has blossomed into a national and global commitment to sustainable food systems. Growing Power as an “Idea Factory” Since its inception, Growing Power has served as a ”living museum” or “idea factory” for the young, the elderly, farmers, producers, and other professionals ranging from USDA personnel to urban planners. Allen’s urban agricultural innovations have transformed
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Growing Power currently operates six greenhouses containing over 12,000 pots of herbs, salad mix, beet greens, arugula, mustards, seedlings, sunflower and radish sprouts.
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Above: The Growing Power historic two-acre farm is the last remaining farm and greenhouse operation in the City of Milwaukee.
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Growing Power has long
The initial plan included a modest two-story conference/
recognized that its two-
training center with expanded greenhouse space, as well as
acre historic farm site in
administrative and retail space. Over time, however, Will Allen
Milwaukee, while ideally
came to the realization these plans did not go far enough.
located to serve its urban
What was needed, he concluded, was a Vertical Farm facility
population, required sig-
that could demonstrate the viability of agriculture production
nificant changes to sup-
in highly dense urban areas.
port its growing mission
of community agriculture education and outreach. In 2003
While vertical farms have been a subject of theoretical dis-
Growing Power hired The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.
cussion for many years, a working vertical farm model could
(TKWA), a nationally-recognized leader in the design of
actually test the concept of producing safe, fresh food, while
highly sustainable, carbon-neutral environmental facilities,
exploring commercial applications of technologies and sys-
to develop a master plan for expansion.
tems required for operation.
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The Growing Power greenhouses feature a highly efficient aquaponic system for raising perch and tilapia sold to local restaurants.
“The decline in arable land, ongoing climate change, water shortages and continued population growth could change our view of traditional farming from soil-based operations to highly efficient greenhouses or urban farms.” $##%& !$/0$12(, ,(-'()&*%+, 10% 2)3$#$ !$/0$12( $+,0"1%,1/, "&,.
Overcoming Urban “Food Deserts” By Allen’s logic, anyone should be able to grow food. That self-sufficiency is especially vital for those in poor communities where fresh produce is scarce, areas he calls “food deserts.” And given the recent outbreaks of food-borne diseases as well as increasing domestic rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, creating healthy food
tic farming model incorporates both cultivating foodstuffs and designing food distribution networks in an urban setting. As oil prices rise, cities expand and housing developments replace farmland, the ability to grow more food in less space becomes ever more important.
sources-especially for rural and inner-city populations is becoming a national imperative. Allen’s aim, then, is to take that message to the people who aren’t traditionally included in the conversation.
Right: The original TKWA concept plan for Growing Power.
Producing Food in an Urban Environment Rather than embracing the “back to the land” approach promoted by many within the sustainable agriculture movement, Allen’s holis-
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4(% 6%24)#!, &!2Imagine a five-story farm in the middle of a city! This innovative conceptual design developed by Growing Power and The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc. will expand and improve Growing Power’s greenhouse and aquaponics operations currently spread over a two-acre site located in the City of Milwaukee. Five stories of south-facing greenhouse areas will allow production of plants, vegetables, and herbs year-round. Expanded educational classrooms, conference spaces, demonstration kitchen, food processing and storage, freezers, and loading docks will further support Growing Power’s expanding mission as a local and national resource for learning about sustainable urban food production. Administrative offices, volunteer spaces, and staff support areas will be closely connected to greenhouse and educational areas to allow for active observation and participation. The new Vertical Farm will expand and improve the year- round indoor retail space selling fresh, nutritious, and affordable food. In addition, the Vertical Farm will create an active outdoor market area and become a community gathering place for work, learning, and social activities. Greenhouses Growing Beds
Rainwater Collection
Retail Market
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Photovoltaic + Thermal Solar Panels
Administrative Support
Education
Education
Food Processing
Water and Energy Water is an important part of daily life at Growing Power. A closed loop system of water circulates from the fish tanks to the planting beds. Fish wastes provide food for plants, while the plants clean and filter Elevator Stair Tower
the water. Rainwater is collected and stored to support the system. The dramatic sloped surface of the building transmits sunlight for growing beds and utilizes convective
Fish Tanks / Hydroponics
currents created by solar heating. Heat generated by the sun is stored in underground thermal mass and is used to heat the building in winter. Roofmounted photovoltaic and thermal solar panels will provide electricity and hot water for the building. Introduction of natural daylight will significantly reduce energy use.
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December 31, 2010 press conference with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett at Growing Power.
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Vertical Farm Achieves Milwaukee Zoning Approval
$11 million
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Growing Power Founder, Will Allen, announce that the TKWA-designed Vertical Farm concept has received City of Milwaukee zoning approval at a December 31, 2010 press confer-
ence held inside a greenhouse at Growing Power’s Milwaukee facility. This approval removes one of the few remaining regulatory and administrative hurdles for the project. City and community leaders have expressed enthusiastic support for beginning construction on the country’s first true vertical farm.
initial pledges:
$5.5 million
Current Fundraising Status
To date, Growing Power has secured initial pledges from corporate and private philanthropic organizations in excess of $5.5 million toward construction of the vertical farm project, including two major lead
gifts. These funds represent approximately half of the anticipated project budget of $11 million. Growing Power has engaged the services of a professional fund raising consultant and is actively seeking further commitments both regionally and nationally.
, .
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The wastewater from fish tanks is used to provide nutrients to crops, which is thenfeature returned as clean water toaquaponic the tanks. The Growing Power greenhouses a highly efficient system for raising perch and tilapia sold to local restaurants.
grand opening:
project start:
March 2010
CONCEPT
ZONING ,2! 6787
FUNDRAISING
5,& 6788
DESIGN
52-9 6788
CONSTRUCTION /,"+0 6786
March 2013
Project Schedule With zoning in place, the Growing Power Vertical Farm is ready to move beyond the concept phase. Once sufficient financial commitments have been secured, Growing Power will proceed with design development led by the nationally-recognized architectural firm, The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc. A construction management firm will be engaged as part of the team at an early stage in the design development process to assist with cost management and constructability issues. As soon as fundraising is secured, the design team is prepared to begin work immediately. Right: Will Allen in one of Growing Power’s greenhouses.
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!"/54 53 '2/7).' 0/7%2 5500 W. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53218 | www.growingpower.org Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.
7),, !,,%. Will Allen, son of a sharecropper, former professional basketball player, ex-corporate sales leader and now farmer, has become recognized as among the preeminent thinkers of our time on agriculture and food policy. The founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc., Will is widely considered the leading authority in the expanding field of urban agriculture. At Growing Power and in community food projects across the nation and around the world, Will promotes the belief that all people, regardless of their economic circumstances, should have access to fresh, safe, affordable and nutritious foods at all times. Using methods he has developed over a lifetime, Will trains community members to become community farmers, assuring them a secure source of good food without regard to political or economic forces. In 2008, Will was named a John D. and Katherine T. McArthur Foundation Fellow and was awarded a prestigious foundation “genius grant” for his work – only the second farmer ever to be so honored. He is also a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, and in February 2010, he was invited to the White House to join First Lady Michelle Obama in launching “Let’s Move!”, her signature leadership program to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity in America. In May 2010, Time magazine named Will to the Time 100 World’s Most Influential People.
4(% +5"!,! 7!3(!4+/ !2#()4%#43 W61 N617 Mequon Ave, Cedarburg, WI 53012 | p: 262.377.6039 | www.tkwa.com The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc. (TKWA) embraces a design philosophy of Wholeness, where the built environment supports and enhances both human activity and natural living systems. The idea of sustainability is a natural extension of wholeness-based thinking and is integrated into every studio project. The TKWA-designed Leopold Legacy Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin is a LEED Platinum, zero-net energy facility that is the first building recognized by the United States Green Building Council as carbon neutral in operation.
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