Scope: Commercial Renovation

Acton Food Pantry serves both Acton and the surrounding communities, and with food insecurity among those communities on the rise, they require a jump in scale to support the growing need. The Pantry will be renovating and relocating to an under-utilized existing building in South Acton center, accessible by public transit and a state-wide bike path that reuses local rail lines.

This larger 6,000 SF building will house a welcoming and warm market-style Pantry, allowing clients a more retail-like browsing experience, tailoring their grocery selection to their household’s needs. Their new location will also enable a larger quantity of food storage, with large walk-in coolers and freezers as well as increased storage capacity for dry goods and household goods.

Staff and volunteers will benefit from office space to better register and guide clients. This increase in support facilities will enable longer and more flexible operating hours to better serve client’s varying schedules. A portion of the second floor will be accessed via a lift, and provide both a lounge for volunteers, more office space, and a flexible meeting space for both the Pantry and community members. The second floor space will remain partially unused during a first phase, allowing for future growth opportunity during the Pantry’s long term tenancy of the building.

The design team used creative thinking and iterative design process to guide a careful, thoughtful renovation of the existing building with minimal yet impactful moves that achieve the Pantry’s goals and needs within their budget.

Recipient of the AIA 2025 Small Project Design Grant