OMA masterplans a food port in west louisville, kentucky

International architecture firm OMA has designed a masterplan for a mixed-use project that will provide a new centralized facility for the growing, selling and distribution of food for local farmers and the community

Working in collaboration with the non-profit seed capital kentucky for the city of louisville, the food port will take significant steps towards rejuvenating a vacant 24-acre site into an active economic and community hub.

‘the diversity of program reflects the full food chain, as well as a new foodscape of public spaces and plazas where producers and consumers meet,’ said OMA’s partner-in-charge shohei shigematsu, who is also leading the alimentary design research studio at harvard university. ‘the food port acts as a catalyst to activate the surrounding neighborhoods, exemplifying one of the complex urban relationships between architecture and food that our studio is investigating.’located on a former tobacco plant at 30th st. between market st. and muhammad ali boulevard, the project proposes a new model for the relationship between consumer and producer. the design integrates several key programs that serve and provide for all stages of the food chain, including a kitchen incubator, urban farm, recycling facility and programs that will engage directly with the public such as classrooms, demonstration farm, and local retail. outdoor spaces include a market plaza, food truck plaza, and an edible garden. the building is organized to allow for systematic expansion in the future.

the west louisville food port is projected to be a 50 million USD investment in the area, and bring in nearly 200 new jobs. the project is expected to break ground in late summer of 2015, with businesses opening in phases facilitated by the design’s segmented program layout.