BLOCK 2361

A Model Vertical Farm

By Henry Gordon-Smith
Columbia University 2013 M.S. Sustainability Management

Since January 2013, Columbia University MS student Henry Gordon-Smith [1] has been developing a model vertical farm with his faculty adviser Dr. Dickson Despommier [2]. The following brief is a snapshot of the projects results. It is by no means exhaustive, but does contribute to the dialogue on urban agriculture and especially how data and design play a role in sustainable urban agriculture development. The brief introduces a vertical farming complex for Block 2361, a site in the south Bronx, NY that could feed 2,500 local residents every day, create 60 full-time jobs, and improve green infrastructure.
Methodology: 1. Identify the problems and choose top impact goals. 2. Collect and analyze data. 3. Research and visit optimal impact site. 4. Choose your grow system(s). 5. Design integrated solution where form meets function. 6. Consult with industry experts and colleagues. 7. Revise design and re-visit data. 8. Report and share.

The Problems: Rapidly growing urban populations are hyper-centralizing the demand for fresh food. [3] Climate change threatens the global agri-systems [4] Most open field agriculture (OFA), damages the soil and utilizes fossil-fuels for pest control and transport. [5] Food Consumption habits have become unacceptable. [6] Food security is primarily a function of distribution. [7] Location [8]: Site: Block 2361, 626 Bergen Ave., Bronx, NYC Lot Area: 73,200 sq ft Zoning: Light Manufacturing (M-1-1) Owner: Housing and Preservation Context: Food Context: Not fresh, Inadequate access Infrastructure Context: Fenced off, Failing sidewalks, Sustainability Context: Adjacent Via Verde building project [8], Functions as a green space with no public access

Impact Goals: Collect and analyze controlled environment agriculture (CEA) data in order to identify lbs/sf possible indoors. Design a model vertical farm based upon this data. Improve urban food security in the Bronx. Combat obesity and malnutrition. Encourage collaboration across the urban agriculture industry.

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Overview: The BXVF is a model factory composed of indoor growing systems layered in green infrastructure. Stacked, stand-alone modular grow labs make up the cores of two separate farm complexes. These grow towers are on top of an above-grade foundation that serves as green infrastructure, space for distribution, and more grow labs. A semi-permeable, curtain-wall around the grow towers separates public and private space. This flex skin also improves design and management with modular PV/Vegetation/ETFE options. In between the skin and the grow towers are catwalks and semi-exposed work zones. Each tower harvests rainwater through catchments that also serve as solar reflectors/collectors. The BXVF could grow about 2,350,000 pounds of produce each year. That would provide at least 2,500 people with a complete diet [9] through an innovative online community supported agriculture network.

Growing Systems: GH - Greenhouse HT - Hydro Towers AQ - Aquaponics Lab AT - Aero Tower RF - Rice Field

Other Systems: RWHV PV/Reflecting RWH catchments/Vents CSA - Smart community-supported agriculture SKIN - Modular, flex PV/Vegetation/ETFE skin UL Green urban layering DB Distribution bay

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Systems Overview: Elevation

SUNLIGHT FRESH AIR WARM AIR RAIN/GRAYWATER

PV/VEG/ETFE SKIN

RWH BXVF/AGRITECTURE

AQ

PMP 3

AQ

RWH Henry Gordon-Smith

Hydro Towers

What is Hydroponics? Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. [10]
Greenhouse

Aero Tower

Fish Farm

What is Aquaponics? Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines conventional aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment. [11]

HYDRO&COMPLEX&
! Crop% Data%Source% Technique% OFA%yield%(lbs/sf/yr)% CEA%yield%(lbs/sf/yr)% Grow%Area%(sf)% Grow%Levels%(#)% Grow%Area%(total)% CEA%Annual%Yield%(lbs)% OFA%Annual%Yield%(lbs)% %%Increase% BXVF/AGRITECTURE Fish%Farm% Tilapia! AquaBundance! Aqua! N/A! N/A! 7000! 1! 7000! 69818! N/A! N/A! T1%F1% Lettuces! Ohio!State! Hydro! 2.13! 43.97! 1215! 4! 4860! 213674! 4313! 4854%! T1%F2% T1%F3%% T2%F1% T2%F2% T2%F3%% T3%F1%% Spinach! Berries! Peppers! Eggplant! Legumes! Cucumbers! Resh! F.!State! U!of!A! U!of!A! Resh! U!of!A! Hydro! Hydro! Hydro! Hydro! Hydro! Hydro! 2.13! 0.23! 0.56! 0.41! 0.25! 0.61! 3.6! 2.4! 8.76! 6.76! 1.06! 12.29! 1215! 1215! 1215! 1215! 1215! 1215! 4! 4! 2! 2! 2! 2! 4860! 4860! 2430! 2430! 2430! 2430! 17496! 11664! 21287! 16424! 2583! 29862! 4313! 465! 1135! 829! 512! 1244! 306%! 2409%! 1776%! 1880%! 404%! 2300%! 4 T3%F2% T3%F3% GreenHouse% Cabbage! Beets! Tomatoes! Resh! Resh! U!of!A! Hydro! Hydro! Hydro! 0.30! 0.20! 2.05! 0.41! 0.61! 22.53! 1215! 1215! 6300! 4! 4! 1! 4860! 4860! 6300! 2008! 2952! 141936! 604! 410! 18433! 232%! 620%! 670%! Henry Gordon-Smith

www.aerofarms.com

What is Aeroponics? Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. [12]

AERO&COMPLEX&

Rice%Field% Rice! H.!Resh! Hydro! 0.02! 0.11! 5000! 1! 4000! 459! 115! 300%!

Floor%1% Wheat! NASA! Aero! 0.14! 268.2! 1215! 1! 1215! 325843! 279! 116721%!

Floor%2% Potatoes! NASA! Aero! 0.4! 32.24! 1215! 4! 4860! 156674! 820! 19009%!

Floor%3% Potatoes! NASA! Aero! 0.4! 32.24! 1215! 4! 4860! 156674! 819! 19009%!

Floor%4% Soybean! NASA! Aero! 0.06! 80.84! 1215! 4! 4860! 392869! 116! 339415%!

Floor%5% Tomatoes! NASA! Aero! 1.15! 161.94! 1215! 2! 2430! 393503! 2324! 16829%!

Floor%6% Tomatoes! NASA! Aero! 1.15! 161.94! 1215! 2! 2430! 393503! 2324! 16829%!

Crop% Data%Source% Technique% OFA%yield%(lbs/sf/yr)% CEA%yield%(lbs/sf/yr)% Grow%Area%(sf)% Grow%Levels%(#)% Grow%Area%(total)% CEA%Annual%Yield%(lbs)% OFA%Annual%Yield%(lbs)% %%Increase%

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The Smart CSA: Diverse produce boxes can be ordered through a BXVF smartphone app. Buyers pick-up their CSA box from lockers using their mobile device. Members can also access recommended diets and get live information about the BXVF crop portfolio. The BXVF could provide at least 2,500 adults with a near complete diet every day. [13]
lbs/yr

Welcome, There are 918 of 2,500 CSA box agreements still available.
SIGN UP LOGIN

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Green Urban Layering: -Manages storm events effectively -Reclaims pre-existing green space -Provides above grade fresh air vents -Encourages exercise by creating a raised public space -Protects farms at night and through storm events

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Sources: 1. www.agri-tecture.com 2. www.verticalfarm.com 3. Pg. 24 - Regmi, Anita, and John Dyck. "Effects of urbanization on global food demand." Changing Structure of Global Food Consumption and Trade (2001): 23-30. 4. Pg. 103 - Robertson, Richard, et al. "Economic Impacts of Climate Change." Economics of Climate Change in the Arab World: Case Studies from the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia and the Republic of Yemen (2013): 31. 5. Pg. 3510 - Weber, Christopher L., and H. Scott Matthews. "Food-miles and the relative climate impacts of food choices in the United States." Environmental Science & Technology 42.10 (2008): 3508-3513. 6. Pg. 1069 - Pereira, Mark A., et al. "Fast-food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (the CARDIA study): 15-year prospective analysis." The Lancet 365.9453 (2005): 36-42. 7. Pg. 117 - Allen, Patricia. "Reweaving the food security safety net: Mediating entitlement and entrepreneurship." Agriculture and human values 16.2 (1999): 117-129. 8. See OASIS MAP: http://www.oasisnyc.net/map.aspx?zoomto=lot:2023610026 9. *Excludes dairy. Daily need determined from USDA food plate data for an adult (1600 calories/day). The farm grows enough fish protein and vegetables for over 4,000 adults but only 2,500 can be guaranteed because of limited fruit production. www.choosemyplate.gov/supertracker-tools/daily-food-plans.html 10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics 11. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics 12. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroponics 13. *Excludes dairy. 14. Pg. 4 - 2012 Permanent Modular Construction Report: http://www.modular.org/documents/2012-PMC-Annual-Report.pdf Yield Data Sources: 1. AquaBundance: www.theaquaponicstore.com/Aquaponics-SystemAquaBundance-Modular-s/110.htm 2. Ohio State Lettuce Budget Calculator: www.oardc.ohiostate.edu/hydroponics/t01_pageview2/Economic_Budgets.htm 3. H. Resh: Resh, Howard M. Hydroponic food production: a definitive guidebook for the advanced home gardener and the commercial hydroponic grower. CRC PressI Llc, 2012. 4. Florida State: Pg. 104 - Paranjpe, A., et al. "Winter strawberry production in greenhouses using soilless substrates: an alternative to methyl bromide soil fumigation." Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. Vol. 116. 2003. 5. U of A: pg. 4 - Jensen, Merle H. "Hydroponics worldwide." International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics 481. 1997. 6. NASA: Pg. 18 - Wheeler, R. M., and J. C. Sager. "Crop production for advanced life support systems." Technical Reports (2006): 1.

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BXVF Next Steps: Complete energy, water, and waste analysis. Complete a cost estimate of at least one complex. Encourage yield, energy, and water data sharing throughout the building-integrated agriculture industry. Meet with more community members and leaders. Share and develop the BXVF. Conclusions: From a sustainable design perspective, vertical farming is worth devoting more time to developing: cities would benefit if it were part of the urban tapestry. More data is needed, but we now know that a modestly sized urban farm could provide a near complete diet to many local residents. Modular design through both the labs and the skin facilitates flexibility, adaptability, and replication [14]. Its Modular follow the technique and let it grow. Henry Gordon-Smith

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