This thesis explores the potential of underutilized industrial sites as catalysts for urban renewal through adaptive reuse strategies. It examines how industrial ruins, rich in memory and historical significance, can be repurposed to create spaces that foster technological innovation and community engagement. By integrating theories of memory, place, and ecological regeneration, this study seeks to transform industrial remnants into active urban hubs that preserve historical identity while accommodating contemporary economic and social needs.

As cities keep growing, they frequently neglect the old while consuming new land. Farmland is displaced by urban sprawl, while inner-city brownfield lands, which were formerly prosperous commercial or industrial districts, deteriorate. These underused spaces represent both a loss of heritage and a missed opportunity for sustainable development. Due to their lack of security, inadequate lighting, and abandonment, brownfields frequently turn into magnets for criminal activity. They become risky locations in the city due to their lack of activity and maintenance, which attracts drug use, illegal dumping, vandalism, and unsafe gatherings.

This thesis proposes the adaptive reuse of a brownfield site, transforming the PECO Factory into a dynamic innovation & collaboration Hub. Preserving architectural memory and incorporating a forward-thinking program that addresses modern urban needs are the two goals. In doing so, the project serves as a prism through which to examine how we value our land, our legacy, and the spatial equity of our rising. The core concept is “Reincarnation,” translated architecturally through layering, transparency, material contrast, and preservation of existing elements. The intervention respects the site’s memory while embedding contemporary needs through modular, flexible spaces. Circulation and light play key roles in reviving spatial quality.