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A Closer Look: Aurum Botanics
- Andrzej Skonieczny
- Apr 11
- 4 min read
Updated: 56 minutes ago
Crafting a Premium Dispensary Experience
When Aaron, the owner of Aurum Botanics, set out to establish his cannabis dispensary in Pemberton, New Jersey, he envisioned more than just a retail space. His goal was to create an inviting, elevated shopping experience that encouraged customers to browse at their own pace, free from the rushed, transactional feel of many dispensaries.
At the same time, the project needed to balance modern cannabis retail strategies with the historical character of Pemberton, ensuring the dispensary fit seamlessly within the community.
VALERE took on this challenge, guiding Aaron through key design considerations, such as how lighting, materials, and spatial organization could influence customer behavior and brand perception. The result?
A space that speaks to both contemporary cannabis retail trends and Pemberton’s rich historical backdrop.
"Whether you want to explore, browse, and talk about cannabis science or seek an inspiring retail experience, we’ll make it happen. We’re here to inform, support, and guide your cannabis journey." - Aurum Botanics
Transforming an Outdated Space
The starting point for this transformation was a 5,050-square-foot former bar and restaurant, a structure with significant challenges. The building’s exterior was in disrepair, with deteriorating siding and remnants of a past car collision. Inside, low ceilings and a lack of natural light made the space feel confined and uninviting. Additionally, township regulations required that any exterior renovations reflect Pemberton’s historic character.
To address these issues, VALERE Architects conducted a thorough Context Study, analyzing local architectural styles, color palettes, and materials. This ensured that Aurum Botanics’ exterior renovations would not only comply with municipal guidelines but also enhance the town’s streetscape. Though exterior upgrades were initially beyond the project’s scope, integrating these elements became essential to achieving a cohesive final product.
Designing for Experience
Beyond the physical renovation, VALERE played a crucial role in shaping the customer journey within the space. Discussions with Aaron centered on essential questions:
How should customers move through the store?
What type of atmosphere would encourage them to stay and explore?
How could the layout subtly guide them toward key product displays?
These considerations led to a design that prioritized clear wayfinding, designated POS areas, and a calming ambiance that made customers feel at ease.
The interior design of Aurum Botanics was driven by three key principles:
Creating a Spacious, Uncluttered Layout: The dispensary’s design prioritized clear wayfinding and designated POS areas to create an intuitive, stress-free shopping experience. Customers would never feel crowded or rushed, reinforcing the boutique atmosphere.
Maximizing Natural and Artificial Light: Given the building’s previous use as a bar, introducing brightness was crucial. VALERE incorporated strategic lighting solutions and carefully placed openings to enhance the sense of openness while maintaining privacy where needed.
Addressing Ceiling Height Challenges: Rather than seeing the low ceilings as a limitation, VALERE embraced them as a key design element to carry the Art Deco design elements through the space. A combination of accent lighting, decorative molding, and selectively lowered ceiling areas created a layered, immersive environment that made the space feel taller and more dynamic.
Aligning Architecture with Brand Identity
An organic evolution of Art Deco-inspired design emerged throughout the project. Aurum Botanics’ original name, Alchemy Botanics, evoked themes of gold and transformation—both core elements of Art Deco aesthetics. Hybrid Marketing’s Art Director Adam Mendez and Matt Gillespie, VP of Creative, developed a brand identity that featured gold accents and intricate detailing. The result was a seamless integration of brand and space, where interior design choices—such as metallic finishes and moody color palettes—reinforced the dispensary’s premium feel and brand identity.
The fine line work in the identity also echoes art deco styles, which translated beautifully into the store design, creating a cohesive experience from digital to physical spaces.” — Matt Gillespie, VP of Creative, Hybrid Marketing
The Intersection of Architecture, Interior Design, and Branding
Aurum Botanics is a prime example of how architecture, interior design, and branding work together to create a cohesive experience. Each of these disciplines plays a crucial role in shaping how customers perceive and interact with a space.
Architecture provides the foundational structure, ensuring the space is functional, efficient, and compliant with building codes and industry regulatory requirements.
Interior design enhances this by creating an atmosphere that aligns with the intended customer experience—through lighting, materials, and spatial arrangement.
Branding, meanwhile, adds the final layer, ensuring that every design element reflects the business’s identity, values, and market positioning.
When these three elements are aligned, they create a powerful synergy that elevates a retail environment from ordinary to extraordinary. A well-designed space is more than just visually appealing; it tells a story, builds an emotional connection with customers, and reinforces the brand’s presence in the market.
The Outcome: A Stunning, Customer-Centric Retail Space
The transformation of Aurum Botanics speaks for itself. The dispensary is not only visually striking but also intuitively designed to enhance the customer experience. From the moment visitors step inside, they encounter an atmosphere that is both calming and luxurious, reinforcing Aaron’s goal of an elevated retail environment.
“Every design decision we made—from the flow of the space to the placement of lighting—was centered around how people would feel moving through it. We wanted the architecture to quietly guide, to invite customers to linger, and to build an experience that felt intentional from the street to the sales floor.” — James Sowell, VP, VALERE Architects
Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:
“This is the nicest dispensary I’ve ever seen! Beautiful inside and some of the nicest staff I’ve encountered!”
“Extremely spaced-out layout, which makes everything easy to find. Very friendly and helpful staff, and the atmosphere is very calming.”
“The inside of the store is very well set up and super cool! Love the way it is designed!”
“What a transformation of this building! It’s beautiful inside and out.”
A Blueprint for Future Success
Aurum Botanics serves as a testament to the power of thoughtful architectural design in shaping customer experiences. Through strategic spatial planning, an intuitive retail flow, and a bold yet contextually appropriate aesthetic, VALERE Architects helped transform an aging, unremarkable building into a dispensary that stands as a model for the industry.
For entrepreneurs looking to bring their vision to life, Aurum Botanics is proof that the right design partner can make all the difference. VALERE Architects doesn’t just design spaces—we craft experiences.
