International architecture studio MASS Design Group has successfully completed the renovation of six abandoned factory buildings in New York's Hudson Valley, transforming them into a vibrant mixed-use community hub. The project, known as the Scenic Hudson Northside Hub, was finished this summer and has breathed new life into the former Standard Gage Factory in Poughkeepsie, New York.
The ambitious adaptive reuse project focused on sustainability and environmental responsibility. "Scenic Hudson's Northside Hub represents MASS's commitment to adaptive re-use as the lowest carbon approach to development," explained Justin Brown, MASS Design Group principal and project lead. "It exemplifies the practice of 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,' at the building and urban scale." The 120-year-old factory complex had been sitting empty for nearly two decades before Scenic Hudson commissioned MASS to undertake the comprehensive renovation.
The renovation created 15,000 square feet of diverse spaces including work areas, commercial facilities, and both indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces. Remarkably, the project preserved over 85 percent of the original brick building envelopes and nearly all of the superstructures, mass timber, and concrete elements. The entire development is set within three acres of newly created parkland, enhancing the community's access to green space.
The project carries significant historical importance, being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, it is certified as a brownfield remediation site and recognized as a New York State Research and Development Authority carbon-neutral building. These certifications underscore the project's commitment to both historical preservation and environmental sustainability.
Building A, the largest structure originally constructed in 1920, now houses three levels of workspace along with a gallery, community meeting rooms, and a cafe that opens directly onto an exterior lawn designed for events. Building B, the oldest structure on the site dating back to 1910, was constructed with mass timber and masonry. This building has been transformed to feature a double-height auditorium and reception space equipped with retractable, tiered seating and state-of-the-art projection displays. The design team reinforced the roof to create a green roof and terrace that overlooks a nearby creek.
Buildings C and D, both two-story structures, have been renovated and prepared for future programming opportunities, including potential use as restaurants, workshops, offices, or retail spaces. The project also included the complete renovation of a 5,000-square-foot open-air pavilion and its adjacent storage building. A striking 50-foot-tall brick exhaust chimney dominates the site, standing proudly over the buildings and outdoor spaces with "SGCO" – representing the Standard Gage Company – painted on the bricks as a tribute to the site's industrial heritage.
Environmental sustainability was central to every aspect of the design and construction process. The site design prioritized harmony with the natural environment through comprehensive onsite stormwater management systems, thorough brownfield remediation, extensive native plantings, and biodiversity enhancement strategies. The buildings were carefully adapted to achieve carbon neutrality through the installation of rooftop and parking shade photovoltaic arrays, a solar-powered fresh air system, climate-responsive systems, and high-performance building envelopes.
"By leveraging the embodied carbon costs that have already been paid by past generations, we can begin to think about buildings as carbon sinks, like plants with generative environmental benefits, rather than as carbon emitters whose harm we must mitigate," Brown emphasized. This philosophy reflects MASS Design Group's broader commitment to sustainable architecture and environmental stewardship.
As a non-profit organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Kigali, Rwanda, MASS Design Group maintains an impressive portfolio of projects spanning multiple sectors and locations worldwide. Their diverse body of work includes everything from a university building featuring rammed earth walls in Rwanda to a glass memorial honoring victims of gun violence that was displayed at the Chicago Architecture Biennial in 2019. This latest project in Poughkeepsie represents another significant milestone in their mission to create architecture that serves communities while protecting the environment.
