The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Vertical Harvest (Westbrook)

MEREDA Recognizes its 2024 Notable Project Award Recipients -

Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state's most "noteworthy and significant" real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2024, not only embody MEREDA's belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine's economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide.

This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA's 2025 "Notable Night" social celebration in May.

In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we'll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine's economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation.

Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their inaugural "Groundbreaking Maine" publication. Be sure to check it out! https://www.mainebiz.biz/special-edition/groundbreaking-maine-2025

MEREDA's 2024 Top 9 recipients include:

Firehouse Village, Firehouse Ventures & Avesta Housing (Scarborough)

99 Western Apartments, Mastway Development (Augusta)

The Malone Family Tower, MaineHealth and Perkins&Will (Portland)

Seaport Community Health Center, Penobscot Community Health Care (Belfast)

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, Elliotsville Foundation (T3 R7 WELS)

Vertical Harvest, Vertical Harvest Maine (Westbrook)

Stacy M. Symbol Apartments, Westbrook Development Corporation (Westbrook)

Nightingale & State Street Campus Redevelopment, NewHeight Group & Redfern Properties (Portland)

Front Street Redevelopment, Portland Housing Authority (Portland)

Please join us this week in celebrating Vertical Harvest.

MEREDA: Describe the building and project.

Vertical Harvest Maine: Located in the heart of downtown Westbrook, Vertical Harvest Farms is a pioneering project that represents a significant milestone in both sustainable urban agriculture and innovative construction. Vertical Harvest is a three-story urban greenhouse encompassing 51,118 square feet. This vertical farming model is the equivalent of 250 acres of farmland which reduces the need for expansive land use, providing a year-round urban solution to food scarcity. Utilizing advanced hydroponic systems, this building coordinates and houses industrial growing equipment, which is facilitated by similarly advanced HVAC, transportation, lighting, packaging equipment which are ultimately monitored and controlled by an intelligent control system.

MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project?

Vertical Harvest Maine: The facility is designed to provide fresh, locally grown produce year-round, ensuring a reliable food source for the community. By employing cutting-edge vertical farming techniques, Vertical Harvest Farms will maximize space, conserve resources, and minimize environmental impact, all while supporting economic and social growth in the surrounding area. Vertical Harvest Farms addresses food insecurity while also creating economic opportunities and green jobs, particularly for individuals with disabilities. It also serves as a hub for education and innovation, inspiring other communities to explore sustainable agriculture solutions.

MEREDA: That sounds like quite a process. How long were you in the planning stages before construction started?

Vertical Harvest Maine: Wright-Ryan partnered with Vertical Harvest, Gyde, and Harriman in 2020 during the conceptual design phase to scale an existing prototype into a full-scale production facility. Work began amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and as interest rates soared, the team strategically sequenced the project-prioritizing the core and shell to align with available funding while supporting the design of the grow system. During preconstruction, Wright-Ryan collaborated with the design team and the City of Westbrook to develop a comprehensive logistics plan, addressing the challenges of building within a zero-lot-line site along the heavily trafficked Route 25 corridor. This required careful coordination with the Maine DOT, as well as the local fire and police departments, to ensure smooth execution. The grow system's integration within the structural shell was a highly interactive process. Wright-Ryan worked closely with multiple subcontractors, vendors, and designers to finalize the design and installation of both the grow system and its supporting climate control systems. Today, Wright-Ryan continues to support Vertical Harvest through the commissioning and testing phase, ensuring the facility meets FDA requirements ahead of full-scale production.

MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed.

Vertical Harvest Maine: Vertical Harvest presented a unique set of challenges, making it one of the most complex projects Wright-Ryan has undertaken . As the first multi-story hydroponic greenhouse in Maine, it required the integration of highly technical agricultural systems unfamiliar to the project team and local subcontractors. The specialized equipment-ranging from automated hydroponic growing systems to precise climate controls-demanded close collaboration with international vendors and specialists. This introduced logistical hurdles, including coordinating shipments and ensuring proper installation of unfamiliar technology, all while adhering to a strict construction schedule. In addition, the project's location in downtown Westbrook, a high-traffic area with adjacent active businesses and a zero-lot-line site. With minimal laydown space and staging areas, material deliveries and equipment installation required careful planning to minimize disruption. Maintaining site safety and accessibility for neighboring businesses added another layer of complexity, requiring constant coordination with city officials and stakeholders. Despite these challenges, Wright-Ryan successfully delivered a first-of-its-kind facility, setting a new standard for urban agriculture while demonstrating adaptability and innovation in the face of logistical and technical obstacles.

MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was….

Vertical Harvest Maine: The level of collaboration required across multiple disciplines was an invaluable takeaway. The success of this project depended on seamless coordination between all stakeholders, especially through the interactive 3D modeling process. This approach was crucial in integrating the grow system within the building's structural framework, ensuring both efficiency and functionality. As the construction manager, Wright-Ryan played a vital role in the successful execution of this ambitious project. Our team worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the vision for Vertical Harvest was realized with precision and care. By utilizing innovative construction techniques and sustainable materials, Wright-Ryan helped create a facility that is as environmentally sensitive as it is functional. This project sets new benchmarks for sustainable construction and design, demonstrating that urban agriculture can thrive in a city environment while maintaining a commitment to ecological responsibility. The building itself is a testament to what is possible when architecture, engineering, and construction work in harmony.

Additionally, the project highlighted how a construction site can serve as more than just a place to build-it can also be a powerful educational tool. Wright-Ryan hosted tours for local architects, industry professionals, and students, offering a firsthand look at the innovation driving sustainable agriculture. The experience underscored the potential of construction to not only shape the built environment but also inspire learning and progress in the industry.

MEREDA: Now that it's complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable?

Vertical Harvest Maine: The project's most notable feature is its integration of innovative farming systems within a purpose-built facility designed to maximize efficiency and sustainability. By minimizing the building footprint, the design and construction support a highly efficient growing system that conserves critical natural resources while enabling year-round food production. The facility's energy-efficient design-including heat-capture lighting and water recycling for reuse on site-reduces overall energy consumption and minimizes environmental impact. Additionally, by localizing food production within the city, Vertical Harvest significantly decreases transportation emissions, delivering fresh produce directly to grocery stores, hospitals, and schools.

This project exemplifies environmental responsibility at the local level by balancing sustainable urban agriculture with community needs, serving as a potential global model. It not only strengthens the local food system but also reduces reliance on imported goods, fostering a more resilient and eco-conscious future.