Ascend Wellness Boston Flagship Store

Ascend selected FROM to develp a brick-and-mortar customer experience for its first recreational cannabis store in downtown Boston. The design melds the company’s business vision with the historical heritage of its setting to create a destination customer experience.

Converting an 1896 mercantile building between the financial district and the waterfront into a five-story dispensary provided a unique design opportunity. FROM adapted a palette of industrial building materials to the site: fluted glass blocks on the new storefront allow natural light to permeate the interiors while screening the view from the street, following local regulations.

The inviting entrance takes advantage of its context to engage the customer. Custom zinc panels have replaced a dark wood paneling, softening the transition between the glass blocks and the original yellow brick facade. Other custom features, including backlit display cases, security kiosks and a patterned oak floor in the sales area, complement an exquisite branding experience.