Washington, DC – September 24, 2026

Where Architecture Meets Production

In the industrial fabric of Washington, DC’s PDR-1/FT zone, 500 Emerson Street NE, lot C is being transformed from a conventional warehouse into a highly specialized medical cannabis edibles production facility- an environment shaped by precision, hygiene, circulation, and control.

Designed by Bitarchitects, the 2,150-square-foot interior renovation reinterprets the existing shell as a tightly organized production landscape. The design begins by stripping the warehouse back to its structural framework, creating a clean architectural canvas from which a new programmatic sequence is inserted.

The interior is organized into two distinct yet interconnected zones: the controlled production environment and the administrative/support area. This division establishes a clear operational hierarchy while maintaining visual and functional relationships between staff, management, and the production process.

Rather than treating the production facility as a collection of isolated rooms, the plan is organized as a continuous path that follows the lifecycle of the product itself. The architecture becomes increasingly controlled as the production process advances, with the layout organized around a clear and deliberate sequence of movement. The process begins at the sanitizing and gowning area, where staff prepare before entering the production environment. This zone is directly supported by dedicated chemical storage and raw ingredient storage, allowing cleaning supplies and production materials to remain organized, separated, and readily accessible at the point where they are needed.

From there, materials move into the main production area, which forms the core of the manufacturing process. A dedicated adjacent storage area accommodates product containers, empty packaging, and other production-related materials, keeping these items close to the workstations without interfering with active production. Once manufacturing is complete, products proceed into the packaging and labeling area, which acts as a controlled transition between production and distribution. Finished and labeled products are then transferred into the finished product storage area, while production-related waste is directed separately to the chemical waste disposal area. The sequence concludes at the importing/exporting area, where completed products can be organized for shipment and outgoing distribution. This progression creates a logical production path from preparation and raw materials through manufacturing, packaging, storage, waste handling, and final dispatch, while helping maintain separation between the different stages of the operation.

Running alongside this production sequence is the administrative zone, composed of a reception area, security and monitoring room, ADA-compliant restroom, employee lounge, and utility room. A central hallway acts as both a physical buffer and a visual connector between the two functions. Interior windows along this corridor overlook the production and packaging areas, allowing controlled observation of the manufacturing process while preserving the separation required between administrative and regulated production spaces. This transparency gives the circulation space an architectural role beyond movement, creating a continuous visual relationship between the operational and administrative sides of the facility.

Throughout the facility, material choices and spatial planning respond directly to the demands of a regulated manufacturing environment. Durable, cleanable surfaces, carefully coordinated mechanical systems, controlled airflow, specialized equipment zones, and clearly defined circulation routes work together to create an interior that is both technically rigorous and spatially coherent.

The transformation is supported by a comprehensive integration of fire protection, structural, and MEP systems. A new sprinkler system and associated fire-protection measures are incorporated throughout the facility, while each space is provided with the mechanical systems required for its specific function, including ventilation, exhaust, temperature control, and equipment-related needs. Structural modifications, electrical distribution, plumbing, and other MEP infrastructure are fully coordinated with the architectural layout and production requirements, ensuring that the facility operates as a complete and highly integrated system.

Accessibility and logistics are integrated into the design rather than treated as secondary requirements. ADA-compliant spaces, secure access points, and a new accessible loading ramp strengthen the movement of staff, materials, and finished products through the building while improving the overall operational efficiency of the facility.

The result is more than a warehouse conversion. It is a precise architectural transformation in which circulation, transparency, infrastructure, hygiene, fire protection, and production are treated as interconnected design elements. Following extensive coordination among architects, engineers, designers, consultants, and the full range of required disciplines, the project recently received permit approval. The process involved detailed technical coordination, code compliance, multidisciplinary review, and the completion of all required inspections, reflecting the level of rigor necessary for a highly regulated production environment. At 500 Emerson Street NE, Bitarchitects transforms a utilitarian industrial shell into a purpose-built facility where architecture supports science, regulation, safety, and highly controlled manufacturing.