Lopez Food Center

Located on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands, the Lopez Food Center will become home to both the local Food Share (currently already serving 1,200 individuals on island) and the San Juan Food Hub (an inter-island local food distributor). The organization’s goal goes beyond providing food security to local residents and includes pop-ups and food events, as well as a variety of services and opportunities for local food producers from grant writing to small business courses, equipment co-ops and revolving loan funds.

After holding 6 community forums and meeting one-on-one with community members, the programmatic needs of the building were identified. The Center will include space for food storage, processing, sales and distribution, as well as a community gathering space, and room for training and support. 

Location: Lopez Island, WA
General Contractor: Quantum Construction
Structural Engineer: Isbell Consulting Engineers
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing: FSi Engineer
Civil Engineer: Bennett Engineering
Architecture & Interior Design: Ets Architecture 

The site, located near a central cluster of businesses called “the village” on the island, is partly encumbered by a nearby wetland and wetland buffers. The design and engineering team’s challenge was to create an enduring structure that is respectful to the site and maintains the native ecology. For example, the stormwater approach will replenish adjacent site hydrogeology, while rainwater catchment will be utilized for stormwater flow attenuation, in addition to site irrigation and non-potable water reuse. 

An overarching design goal was to match the building scale, given the large programmatic need, to a size that would feel appropriate to the scale of the island structures, and the Village in particular, while providing ample accessible outdoor spaces and highlighting the beautiful site.

Striving for resilience and efficiency, the building has enhanced insulation throughout for passive heating and cooling, as well as energy-efficient, all-electric heating and cooling systems, a solar array targeting net-zero use, and a battery and generator backup to promote resilience in outages. The space will also have improved interior air quality. The project will pursue LEED Silver Certification. 

As a firm based on Lopez, it was a benefit to be a part of the local community, and share an appreciation for the character of the island as well as bring a more in-depth understanding of the sensitivities and priorities of the stakeholders involved. It’s part of our firm’s mission to contribute to local projects that improve the lives of Lopezians, and to make good, sensitive design available to more people. We’re excited this project presents an opportunity to do both.