Quorum Completes First Pop-up Store for NY State Dispensary Contract
Cookies in Los Angeles, CA, a Quorum/Temeka collaboration project
Quorum has a long history of retail design – more than 30 years! Experience on more than 4,000 conventional retail projects led to the firm partnering with Temeka Group to design nearly 100 cannabis-related projects over the past four years. Quorum provides architectural services and drawings while Temeka provides the interior finish out and custom casework.
“In 2022, Quorum teamed with Temeka to win a contract with the State of New York”
In 2022, Quorum teamed with Temeka to win a contract with the State of New York to design and build the State’s first 150 retail cannabis dispensaries. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) is managing the contracts for the design and construction of cannabis dispensaries awarded to selected social equity applicants who have been negatively affected by the War on Drugs. License holders will inherit a turnkey store – many of which will be completed by the Temeka/Quorum team, which also includes Schnackel Engineers, CS Hudson, Schimenti Construction, and Sapphire Risk Advisory Group.
Quorum & Temeka teamed up to design this Lemonnade, Tulsa, OK
Quorum Director of Retail Design and registered New York Architect, Arthur Calcaterra, AIA says, “Temeka has been a valued partner in our expansion into the cannabis retail market. Our combined experience on past projects for multiple clients has prepared us well.”
New York State voted to legalize adult-use cannabis in March of 2021 and committed to invest up to $50 million toward funding the projects. Ultimately, 10 design-build teams were selected to undertake the cannabis dispensary projects.
"This dispensary is the latest example of our efforts to build the most equitable and inclusive cannabis industry in the nation," New York Governor, Kathy Hochul stated. "As we continue to work toward righting wrongs of the past, I look forward to new dispensaries – owned by those most impacted by the over policing of cannabis prohibition – opening soon."
“Our team is eager to help the State reach their goal of opening 150 dispensaries in the next two years.”
Smacked Pop-up opens January 24, Manhattan, NY
Arthur & Smacked license holder, Roland Conner
The first 37 of such licenses were awarded on November 21, 2022, in regions located across New York. Design-build contracts were signed by the State in late December of 2022, and the first pop-up store owned by an individual, “Smacked” opened on January 24, 2023, in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. Quorum’s design team acted quickly to get the first pop up drawings completed in less than 1 week to meet the demanding schedule.
“We’re accustomed to working on tight schedules for retail clients. Our team is eager to help the State reach their goal of opening 150 dispensaries in the next two years.” says Scott Wilson, AIA, Quorum Founding Partner.
Quorum is licensed in more than 40 states and has performed cannabis dispensary work and design in 12 states including Puerto Rico.