Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
- Vertical farming in vacant office spaces offers a sustainable solution to food security by growing crops like leafy greens and strawberries year-round in climate-controlled environments.
- Urban farms can reduce food miles, lower water usage, and help repurpose underutilized real estate, creating new economic opportunities.
- While challenges remain, vertical farming in office spaces could become a key trend in sustainable city living.
With the global transition to remote and hybrid work leaving many office buildings empty, companies are looking for new ways to use these underutilized spaces.
Vertical farming — which can transform indoor spaces into farms that grow crops like leafy greens and strawberries — may offer a solution, boosting food security, corporate sustainability, and revitalizing empty commercial real estate.
This solution is already more than just a future hope.
One of the most prominent examples of this transformation is the Plenty Richmond Farm, a groundbreaking project designed to grow strawberries indoors on vertical towers.
Located in Virginia, the farm is set to produce over 4 million pounds of premium strawberries annually using advanced agricultural technology, according to PR Newswire. The project brings cutting-edge farming techniques, like climate control and AI-powered analysis of plant data, into urban spaces.
This type of vertical farming could be adapted for office buildings, demonstrating that even limited spaces can become highly productive, food-producing environments.
Is farming in office buildings really feasible?
The trend of converting office spaces and coworking centers into urban farms is already gaining global traction.
In cities from Singapore to Calgary, office buildings are being repurposed to support vertical farming operations.
For instance, in Canada’s Calgary Tower, part of the building has been converted into a 65,000-square-foot indoor farm growing a variety of crops, including kale, cucumbers, and strawberries, according to the BBC.
This approach not only reduces food miles but also breathes new life into otherwise underutilized real estate. It’s clear that with the right infrastructure, vacant office spaces, or coworking areas, can become ideal environments for local food production.
One key advantage of these office-to-farm transformations is the controlled environment vertical farming offers. Unlike traditional farming, vertical farms can grow crops year-round, irrespective of weather or climate.
Using techniques like hydroponics and aeroponics, these farms grow crops without soil, using nutrient-rich water to deliver essential minerals directly to the plants. This method uses far less water compared to conventional agriculture and is much more efficient in terms of space, making it perfect for urban settings, including office buildings and coworking spaces.
Vertical farms can also be designed to grow crops in modular, stackable systems, meaning that even in a limited space, high yields can be achieved.
For example, in a coworking space, modular farming units could be placed in areas such as hallways or break rooms, making use of every available inch. These farms not only produce nutritious food but also enhance the office environment, promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly atmosphere for workers.
Reaping the Rewards: The Benefits of Integrating Farming Into Office Buildings
As urban populations grow, the pressure on traditional farming systems intensifies. Vertical farms, particularly those located in or near cities, can offer a solution by shortening supply chains and reducing the environmental footprint associated with transporting food over long distances.
In fact, many vertical farms report using as much as 90% less water than conventional farms, making them a more sustainable option, especially in areas where water scarcity is a concern.
Additionally, growing crops in controlled environments reduces the need for pesticides and herbicides, leading to healthier, cleaner produce.
The integration of vertical farming into disused office buildings, active office buildings, or coworking spaces can also have significant environmental benefits.
Indoor farms are energy-intensive due to the need for artificial lighting, HVAC systems, and smart sensors. However, many urban farms are now using renewable energy sources to power their operations, helping to offset their energy consumption and reduce their carbon footprint.
As renewable energy becomes more accessible, indoor farming could emerge as a highly sustainable practice that aligns with corporate sustainability goals, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking to green their operations.
Beyond environmental benefits, the transformation of office spaces into farms has the potential to create new economic opportunities. Vacant office buildings — which are often sitting idle and not generating income — can be repurposed into productive spaces that create jobs and contribute to local food systems.
For example, the Plenty Richmond Farm is expected to bring over 60 jobs to Virginia, and its larger campus will create hundreds more in the coming years.
The rise of local food production in cities could support greater food security. During the pandemic, disruptions to global supply chains highlighted vulnerabilities in food systems.
Local farms that can grow fresh produce within city limits could help mitigate this risk, providing urban populations with a more reliable source of food in the face of future crises.
As cities continue to grapple with the challenges of climate change, supply chain disruptions, and rising food prices, vertical farming could provide a resilient solution.
Growing Pains: Challenges in Office-to-Farm Conversions
Despite the growing potential of vertical farms in disused office spaces, there are challenges to overcome. One of the main hurdles is the upfront cost and complexity of retrofitting existing buildings to accommodate farming equipment and systems.
Additionally, zoning laws in many cities may need to be updated to allow agricultural activities within commercial spaces.
However, as the success of projects like the Plenty Richmond Farm and Calgary Tower’s indoor farm show, these challenges are not insurmountable. With the right investment in technology, infrastructure, and urban planning, office-to-farm conversions could become more widespread.
While indoor farms are not yet able to produce large-scale staple crops like rice, wheat, or corn, they excel at growing smaller, high-value crops such as leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, and even strawberries.
Coworking spaces, in particular, could take advantage of this by growing fresh herbs and vegetables on-site for workers to enjoy during the day. This not only enhances the office environment but also promotes a healthier, more sustainable workplace culture.
The future of office spaces and coworking centers will involve much more than just desks and conference rooms.
As businesses continue to embrace remote and hybrid work models, these spaces could evolve into hubs for urban farming, where employees can enjoy fresh produce grown on-site, reducing their environmental footprint and supporting local food systems.
The integration of vertical farming into office spaces could also nurture a deeper connection to nature, even in the heart of a city, promoting a sense of well-being and sustainability for all those who work there.
As cities continue to adapt to new ways of working and living, the transformation of offices into productive urban farms may become the next big trend in sustainable city living.
