Factory 52

Redevelopment
Project Description

The raw, industrial heritage of the original buildings and site is celebrated in the new buildings and architecture, through a combination of form and materiality.

Factory 52 represents a vibrant mixed-use community strategically located within the City of Norwood on the historic grounds of the former home of the United States Playing Card Company facility, one of the leading producers of playing cards in the United States known for their durability and distinctive design featuring a two-wheeled bicycle. In 2009, USPCC relocated leaving the 26 acre Norwood facility abandoned. The site stood as a brownfield for more than a decade until PLK Communities salvaged the decaying complex and preserved four of the most iconic and beloved structures – the Clock Tower, Factory Building, Shipping Facility, and Power Plant Smoke Stack.

Aerial B
Pre-Existing Conditions
Clock Tower Entrance

For the City of Norwood

The Clock Tower is serving as an anchor attraction and is flanking a new “Central Green” which will serve as a Town Center for Norwood, a 19th century independent city surrounded by the City of Cincinnati. New residential buildings, retail, and future mixed use and office are also planned for the site. The original Shipping Facility was redeveloped and expanded as a “Food Innovation Hub” named Gatherall and has a mix of unique food vendors, chefs, and restaurateurs.

Apartments
Retail

The Design Strategy

The community amenities and streetscape are a deference to the heritage of the site, and provide a variety of activities and spaces to gather as a community including a large central “hearth” in the Central Green, areas for performances, outdoor plaza-based splash pad for family summer activities, pickleball courts, a new dog park, and a variety of places for food and drink to be served.

HiWire Exterior
HiWire
Jennis
Gatherall
Gatherall Interior
Fretboard Brewing

A Catalyst

The Factory 52 development serves as a catalyst for rejuvenating the eastern precinct of the city, offering a pedestrian-friendly community for residents and visitors with its blend of residential, retail, recreational, and outdoor communal spaces. Not only does it invite residents of Norwood to return repeatedly, but it also emerges as a sought-after entertainment hub for neighboring communities. The development artfully integrates the site’s rich historical heritage, seamlessly weaving together existing landmark structures with carefully conceived new buildings, paying homage to the site’s history.

Aces Pickleball
HiWire + Clocktower
Night Aerial