Tederic GIGA Factory

2024

Gross Area

244,581 m²

Status

Complete

Completion Date

July 2024

Duration

January 2022 - February 2024

Localizzazione

Tongxiang, China

Tederic GIGA Factory, designed by milanesi|paiusco, seeks to reframe how we think about the past, present, and future of industrial architecture. In the public imagination, factories are tied to enclosing walls, vast sheds, and endless assembly lines—spaces long viewed as closed, monotonous, and efficiency-driven. Today, however, factories are no longer mere production containers; they increasingly embody questions of energy transition, ecological responsibility, and labor conditions.

Located in the Economic Development Zone of Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, the factory covers a site area of approximately 164,666 square meters and a gross floor area of around 244,581 square meters. It comprises machining workshops, injection molding and die-casting assembly halls, an office complex, and a testing lab. Designed as an innovative green industrial park combining efficient production with sustainable development, this “zero-carbon” factory was completed and inaugurated in July 2024 after about 1 year and 9 months of construction.

Sustainability and the Net-Zero Goal

At the core of its green energy system is an 11.69 MW rooftop photovoltaic array, producing an annual average of 11.4223 million kWh—equivalent to the yearly consumption of 4,000 households. This system allows the factory to achieve nearly 100% energy self-sufficiency, fully covering operational demand while channeling 37% of surplus electricity back into the grid, contributing to regional renewable supply and advancing the zero-carbon agenda. In addition, a rainwater collection and reuse system supports water recycling across the campus. The surrounding area integrates small-scale agricultural plots that supply vegetables for the canteen, add to the site’s greenery, and create opportunities for workers’ leisure.

Fusion of Function and Aesthetics

The factory emphasizes the fusion of function and aesthetics. It departs from traditional closed models, combining glass curtain walls and corrugated panels to maximize daylight penetration, enhance openness, and reduce lighting energy use. The considerable height and mass required by production demands are balanced through design strategies that combine glazed ground floors, steel-framed canopies, and articulated façade layers. These elements soften the building’s scale and improve spatial transparency, breaking away from the rigid monotony of a “black box.” The use of stainless-steel corrugated panels maintains reflective qualities close to glass, ensuring overall visual consistency while significantly reducing costs.

Factories and Workers: Human-Centered Care Space

Factories are not merely machines of efficiency; they are spaces where thousands of workers spend their daily labor and lives. Traditional factories were enclosed and isolated, stripping workers of agency and comfort. In contrast, the layout of Tederic GIGA Factory introduces daylight, greenery, and landscape elements to create open and pleasant work environments. Three-meter-high glass panels connect interiors with exterior views, allowing workers visual access to sky and greenery. A central atrium with a rooftop terrace maximizes daylight and greenery, providing comfortable spaces for rest and interaction. Such a balance of efficiency and care improves workers’ experience and enhances productivity and creativity.

Tederic GIGA Factory demonstrates that “better” does not necessarily mean “more expensive.” Its overall construction cost is broadly comparable to conventional factories, with certain aspects even more economical. Through rational planning and material choices, the design achieves higher energy efficiency, more comfortable spatial experience, and improved environmental quality. The project marks a new model of sustainable industrial architecture, where factories become critical nodes of production, energy, ecology, and culture—reshaping the relationship between industry, cities, and society.

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