From Office Building to Garden Center Retail Destination
Petitti Garden Centers Bath Township Location
Through adaptive reuse and renovation architecture, AVID Architects reimagines a former office space for Petitti Garden Centers.
Key Insights
Adaptive reuse unlocks retail potential
Circulation drives the shopping experience
Phased demolition & design can improve renovation outcomes
Quick Facts
Location: Bath Township, Ohio
Size: 30,500 SF Retail Store | 40,000 SF Greenhouse
Completion: April 2025
Services: Architecture, MEP Engineering, Adaptive Reuse
Client: Petitti Garden Centers
The Opportunity
Petitti Garden Centers sought to expand into Bath Township by transforming a former office building into a full-scale retail garden center. The structure offered strong architectural character, including timber framing, peaked rooflines, and skylights, but it was heavily compartmentalized and originally designed for office tenants rather than retail circulation.
The building’s stepped floor levels followed the natural slope of the site, creating additional complexity for retail flow. The owners envisioned a signature store that would preserve the building’s distinctive architecture while providing a seamless customer experience connected to large greenhouse shopping areas.
The project presented a common adaptive reuse challenge. Can an office building successfully become a retail environment? With the right retail architect and a thoughtful renovation architecture strategy, existing structures can be transformed into vibrant commercial destinations.
The Solution
AVID Architects led the adaptive reuse effort by opening the building’s interior and revealing its original timber-frame structure. Interior partitions were removed to create a bright, open retail environment supported by existing skylights and triangular windows.
A new covered main entrance establishes a clear retail identity while reflecting the building’s existing architectural language. Inside, a series of interior ramps and pathways connect the stepped floor levels, allowing customers to move comfortably through the store and into the greenhouse areas.
Structural reinforcement was added to meet retail live load requirements, and a new loading area with a conveyor system improves operational efficiency between the basement storage level and retail floor.
Because the building was still partially occupied when design began, the project followed a phased design process that allowed the team to refine circulation and layout decisions as demolition revealed the full potential of the space.
The Results
The completed Petitti Garden Center demonstrates how adaptive reuse and renovation architecture can successfully transform an existing office building into a vibrant retail destination.
30,500 SF multi-level retail store integrated with more than 40,000 SF of covered greenhouse space
Preserved timber framing, skylights, and rooflines that celebrate the building’s original architectural character
Intuitive customer circulation that guides visitors through multiple retail levels before arriving in the greenhouse shopping area
A signature retail location for Petitti Garden Centers serving the Bath Township community
Behind the Build
More than 40,000 square feet of covered greenhouse space extends the retail experience beyond the store, creating a seamless transition from indoor shopping to outdoor plant displays. Instead of traditional fixed roofs, retractable shade structures provide natural light and airflow while automatically opening during a heat event to support plant health and life safety.