The River Valley Coop, a local cooperative market in the Pioneer Valley, first engaged Thomas Douglas Architects to help with renovations to their first store, in Northampton. The renovation was so well received that TDA was later asked to design their new, larger second store in Easthampton.
TDA worked with the River Valley Coop to evaluate several sites before deciding on the eventual location, the site of a former car dealership. Once it was determined that the existing building could not meet the needs of the market, the design process involved deciding on the structural type for the new building, how to locate the new building on the site, and the materials to be used on the exterior of the building.
This complicated project was done in conjunction with consults with expertise in grocery store layout, refrigeration, and mechanical systems – the latter became even more critical as the project was in construction when the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we view public spaces.
The finished market opened in 2021 to great fanfare and support from the Pioneer Valley community.
