When MerJ Architecture opened its doors in Colorado, it was a general practice firm designing community and commercial projects for repeat clients. Then came cannabis legalization—a change that opened a new market and created an architectural challenge unlike any other. Few firms were prepared to design facilities that could satisfy regulators and consumers. MerJ’s trusted clients, already exploring cannabis ventures, turned to the firm for guidance.
Those early projects became the turning point. Compliance and regulation proved as critical as design, demanding architects who could simultaneously think like inspectors, licensing boards and business operators. By mastering zoning laws, licensing requirements and even the nuances of the International Building Code, MerJ created a blueprint for cannabis facilities that balanced compliance with creativity. Word spread quickly. Consultants across the United States and Europe began seeking MerJ’s expertise, expanding its reach beyond Colorado.
Today, MerJ Architecture is one of the few firms dedicated exclusively to cannabis. From cultivation sites to extraction labs and dispensaries, it delivers solutions that unite regulatory rigor with customer experience.
“We see ourselves as strategic partners,” says Nicole Delmage, owner. “Our role is to help clients succeed long after the building is complete, by creating spaces that meet compliance, optimize workflow and give customers an experience worth coming back for.”
To make architecture successful, it must speak two languages—the strict language of compliance and the human language of experience. MerJ expertly balances both. The firm delivers the nuts and bolts of compliance and operational efficiency while designing environments that foster connection. In dispensaries, that means thinking in three dimensions—materials, finishes, furniture and casework. Sometimes cabinetry must lock; other times, products must be visible without being touched. Each requirement becomes an opportunity to turn restrictions into intentional, beautiful design.
Clarity has been a cornerstone of MerJ’s process since the beginning. Because the industry was new, regulators and clients needed to understand drawings at a glance. The firm responded with a clear graphic style and plain language, using compliance or industry terminology only when it added clarity. To give operators confidence, MerJ often presents projects through complete 3D walkthroughs, allowing clients to experience the space as their customers will long before construction begins.
With cultivation or extraction facilities, priorities shift. Unless designed as flagship destinations with tours or education, these projects focus less on aesthetics and more on workflow efficiency. MerJ adapts accordingly, recognizing that success in these environments depends on streamlined operations and consistent output.
Even as the technical demands differ, MerJ’s foundation remains people-first. The firm prides itself on humility, strong relationships and friendships that last beyond a project’s completion. Its team cares deeply about the plant and the products clients create. If a building doesn’t help operators make and sell the best product, MerJ doesn’t consider the job complete. That principle applies across cultivation, manufacturing, extraction and retail.
Another guiding philosophy is permanence. If a building doesn’t work, it won’t last. MerJ designs to prevent that by future-proofing spaces for growth, anticipating how the cannabis industry will evolve and ensuring each facility remains valuable for decades.
A standout project illustrates this approach. In a small town meaningful to one client, an abandoned building, once home to an ice cream shop, was revived. MerJ preserved the brickwork, reopened sealed windows and reimagined the interior with lush plants, colorful flowers and a boardwalk-inspired layout. By blending historic preservation, regulatory compliance and thoughtful design, the project became a community landmark where history and vision converged.
One of the most critical reasons for achieving it was proper funding, which MerJ considers essential. Well-financed projects allow the team to meet regulatory requirements while fully realizing a client’s vision. For this reason, the firm partners with owners who approach the business seriously, invest responsibly and treat the build process with the gravity it deserves.
Those early projects became the turning point. Compliance and regulation proved as critical as design, demanding architects who could simultaneously think like inspectors, licensing boards and business operators. By mastering zoning laws, licensing requirements and even the nuances of the International Building Code, MerJ created a blueprint for cannabis facilities that balanced compliance with creativity. Word spread quickly. Consultants across the United States and Europe began seeking MerJ’s expertise, expanding its reach beyond Colorado.
Today, MerJ Architecture is one of the few firms dedicated exclusively to cannabis. From cultivation sites to extraction labs and dispensaries, it delivers solutions that unite regulatory rigor with customer experience.
“We see ourselves as strategic partners,” says Nicole Delmage, owner. “Our role is to help clients succeed long after the building is complete, by creating spaces that meet compliance, optimize workflow and give customers an experience worth coming back for.”
To make architecture successful, it must speak two languages—the strict language of compliance and the human language of experience. MerJ expertly balances both. The firm delivers the nuts and bolts of compliance and operational efficiency while designing environments that foster connection. In dispensaries, that means thinking in three dimensions—materials, finishes, furniture and casework. Sometimes cabinetry must lock; other times, products must be visible without being touched. Each requirement becomes an opportunity to turn restrictions into intentional, beautiful design.
Clarity has been a cornerstone of MerJ’s process since the beginning. Because the industry was new, regulators and clients needed to understand drawings at a glance. The firm responded with a clear graphic style and plain language, using compliance or industry terminology only when it added clarity. To give operators confidence, MerJ often presents projects through complete 3D walkthroughs, allowing clients to experience the space as their customers will long before construction begins.
-
We see ourselves as strategic partners. Our role is to help clients succeed long after the building is complete, by creating spaces that meet compliance, optimize workflow and give customers an experience worth coming back for.
With cultivation or extraction facilities, priorities shift. Unless designed as flagship destinations with tours or education, these projects focus less on aesthetics and more on workflow efficiency. MerJ adapts accordingly, recognizing that success in these environments depends on streamlined operations and consistent output.
Even as the technical demands differ, MerJ’s foundation remains people-first. The firm prides itself on humility, strong relationships and friendships that last beyond a project’s completion. Its team cares deeply about the plant and the products clients create. If a building doesn’t help operators make and sell the best product, MerJ doesn’t consider the job complete. That principle applies across cultivation, manufacturing, extraction and retail.
Another guiding philosophy is permanence. If a building doesn’t work, it won’t last. MerJ designs to prevent that by future-proofing spaces for growth, anticipating how the cannabis industry will evolve and ensuring each facility remains valuable for decades.
A standout project illustrates this approach. In a small town meaningful to one client, an abandoned building, once home to an ice cream shop, was revived. MerJ preserved the brickwork, reopened sealed windows and reimagined the interior with lush plants, colorful flowers and a boardwalk-inspired layout. By blending historic preservation, regulatory compliance and thoughtful design, the project became a community landmark where history and vision converged.
One of the most critical reasons for achieving it was proper funding, which MerJ considers essential. Well-financed projects allow the team to meet regulatory requirements while fully realizing a client’s vision. For this reason, the firm partners with owners who approach the business seriously, invest responsibly and treat the build process with the gravity it deserves.
Thank you for Subscribing to Cannabis Business Insights Weekly Brief
