ABSTRACT
The design and policy of urban manufacturing are made more complex by changing definitions. Certainly manufacturing has accepted categories: advanced manufacturing, value-added manufacturing, just-in-time production, lean production, mass production, mass customization, on-¬demand production, and prototyping, among others. The smaller size, diversity, and concentration of urban manufacturing demonstrate that, under the right conditions, manufacturing should be accommodated in a wide variety of building types and urban environments. Architectural design is another part of the challenge for manufacturing in cities: the relationship of factories to their urban context. Multistoried factories in historic loft districts enliven the streets. In low-rise districts, unrelieved and boring expanses of factory boxes prevail. The latter, however, provide a number of interesting design opportunities. The factory box can serve as the base for a multistoried building; it can be carved out and enhanced with an innovative façade; or it can be fitted with inviting and welcoming entryways that could enliven the streetscape.
