Our goal was to create welcoming community retail spaces for these Fort and Gordon Street cannabis stores. Western Design + Build worked in tandem with co-owner the Songhees First Nation and with artistic advisor Tseshaht First Nations artist Connie Watts and Songhees artist Jess Joseph on a design that celebrates West Coast Indigenous art and culture in a warm, earthy, natural setting. Each store’s design complements the other, while retaining its individual flair, ensuring that the two, while mere blocks from each other, have their own draw for customers.
The Grit: We navigated working with conflicting bylaws and requirements between the City of Victoria and licensing and a constricting construction timeline for the grand opening.
The Sparkle: We really enjoyed connecting with the Indigenous community to create a space that is both functional and beautiful, rooted in Indigenous storytelling and culture. Bringing our client’s vision to life was rewarding in itself.
SERVICES
- Retail design
- Drawing & Specification
- Custom millwork
- Construction
- Post occupancy support
- Staging for grand opening
- Artist engagement
