Industrial Sites

How can innovative design leverage one of Philadelphia’s greatest legacies? Infill Philadelphia explored the possibilities and realities of reusing former factories and underutilized manufacturing sites, and offer more options for the small-scale artisans and advanced manufacturing that can contribute to a diverse, resilient Philadelphia economy. An exhibition, design charrette, and a design challenge focusing on three different industrial sites demonstrated the link between industrial reuse and a sustainable city. 

PARTNERS
Community Design Collaborative
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation

Download our publication to learn more about the findings and designs. 

Design Challenge

Options for the reuse of vacant industrial buildings and land were developed through a creative, interactive process know as a design challenge.  Three design firms worked simultaneously on three, real-life sites in partnership with community-based organizations and property owners. They refined their designs following a mid-review by a jury of experts in design, development, finance, policy, and manufacturing, and presented final design concepts at a public reveal in 2010. 

Exhibition Retooling Industrial Sites

In 2010, an exhibition of 50 design precedents for transforming industrial sites into housing, mixed-used development, and new forms of manufacturing reflected growing interest in revitalizing industrial sites. 

Design Charrette Industrial Sites Interim Reuse

The Collaborative hosted a charrette in 2009 to explore ways to reanimate vacant, neighborhood-based industrial sites in Chinatown and Kensington through creative temporary installations. The charrette was the inspiration for MacroSEA’s Glassphemy! installation at Crane Arts.