Milk Hub 2.0: From Dairy to Community

Once a symbol of regional prosperity, the Borden Condensed Milk Factory was damaged by fire and left vacant in the 1990s. Milk Hub 2.0 reframes this stranded asset as a prototype for low-carbon, plant-based production and inclusive rural revitalization. The architectural strategy is deliberately systemic: a preserved brick envelope receives reversible steel and timber insertions; polycarbonate clerestories and ridge vents deliver soft daylight and cross-ventilation; services are organized as modular racks to simplify maintenance and future upgrades. These choices minimize new material, extend the life of the existing fabric, and keep the spatial character of industry legible.

Program is organized into two interdependent zones. The industry loop houses the full cycle of plant-based milk—crop reception, processing, fermentation, bottling, and distribution—while the community loop interweaves skill training, language and legal support, a research unit for sustainable farming, childcare, and a market hall. Bridges and shared alleys stitch the loops together so learning remains visible to production without compromising hygiene and safety. A nature-oriented buffer along the riverbank restores ecological continuity, manages stormwater, and serves as an outdoor classroom.

By coupling architectural clarity with governance and care infrastructure, Milk Hub 2.0 proposes a replicable model for a just transition: from a high-emissions dairy economy toward circular, plant-based value chains rooted in education and dignified work. It is not a museum of industry but a living commons—bridging past and future, labor and landscape, economy and community.