Nourishing the City: Integrating Local Food Systems in Seattle's Central District

Abstract

The agriculture industry is one of the main contributors to environmental degradation due to massive amounts of water and energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. Meanwhile, food insecurity disproportionately affects on populations based on race, socio-economic factors, and location. This thesis explores the opportunities to develop a food center within Seattle; one that nourishes the community and the environment, while working to equitably serve people through access, affordability, education, and social capital. Centered between Seattle’s Central and International Districts and near the two major Washington interstates, the proposed food center on Rainier Avenue is situated at a critical node in the city; one that is culturally diverse, food-centric, and rapidly developing. The project incorporates the adaptive reuse of a 1923 cosmetics factory into an urban food center for locals and tourists; a place to serve the community and educate visitors on sustainable food practices, food supply systems, and the Circular Economy model. The food center contains aspects from each phase within the food supply chain, from production to waste recovery, to provide visitors with a holistic understanding of the food system. The center also provides spaces for the community to learn, grow, gather, and dine together. Nourishing the City is reimagining how local food systems can better integrate into under-resourced communities for a more equitable and sustainable future.