Chicago’s first medical cannabis dispensary opened in 2015 at 5001 North Clark Street in the Andersonville neighborhood. How did Perimeter Architects, designers for Dispensary 33, approach this new type of business which has similarities to a medical facility but also carries an association to illegal activity? Currently, 39 serious and debilitating health conditions qualify for medical cannabis in Illinois,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.* Dispensary 33’s mission is to provide compassionate, high quality service to its patients. How did the designers create a healing environment that is bright and sophisticated yet sensitive to the privacy needs of the clients and the security needs of the operator? Custom displays, artwork, and lighting elevate user’s experience. The strict requirements of access and security were blurred with strong, clean design elements and innovative space planning and place making.

Speakers:

Branyo Dvorak, AIA, Lynsey Sorrell, AIA, principals, and Jaime Magaliff, Perimeter Architects

Bryan Zises andand Zachary Zises, owners of Dispensary 33