Scenic Hudson Transforming Abandoned Factory into New Net-Zero Headquarters and Community Space
The environmental nonprofit's new HQ is, in practice, what the organization has been preaching for decades.
The exterior of Scenic Hudson’s new Northside Hub in Poughkeepsie, a net-zero redevelopment of the long-abandoned Standard Gage factory. The sustainably designed headquarters transforms an industrial relic into a community resource and model for adaptive reuse.
- Scott G. Morris Photography / Courtesy of Scenic HudsonAfter five years in the making, Scenic Hudson officially opened the doors of its new Northside Hub at 58 Parker Avenue today, transforming a long-abandoned factory into a beacon of sustainable design and community engagement.
The Northside Hub repurposes the former Standard Gage factory—a site that once manufactured precision instruments and even hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. The property had lain vacant for two decades, suffering environmental contamination and visual decay. Today, it stands revitalized: listed on the National Register of Historic Places, cleaned through New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program, and designed to produce more energy than it consumes.
The Northside Hub’s atrium works as an “air chimney” to help pull fresh air through the building. Photo: Scott G. Morris Photography / Courtesy of Scenic Hudson.
“The Northside Hub is not only a stunning, sustainable home for Scenic Hudson, but also a vibrant community resource for our home city of Poughkeepsie and its visitors,” said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan. “Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey—I couldn’t be more excited to see what lies ahead.”
The renovation incorporates cutting-edge sustainable features: a fresh-air system with “trickle vents” delivering twice the fresh air of conventional systems; a three-story atrium acting as an air chimney; terraced native planting areas; solar timber canopies shading parking; rooftop solar panels; bioswales, on-site rainwater retention, and a green roof—all designed to manage stormwater, reduce runoff, and keep rain on-site.
“As Hudson Valley residents and neighbors who benefit daily from Scenic Hudson’s important work, our team is honored to have played a key role in the historic restoration and cleanup of this site, creating a space that respects the past while building a greener, more resilient future,” said Scott Cruikshank, Project Executive at Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
The new Hub houses Scenic Hudson’s offices alongside flexible community resources—a light-filled atrium, auditorium, pavilion, exhibition areas, and gathering spaces—that will open to public use beginning January 2026. As Jason Camporese, Scenic Hudson’s CFO and COO, remarked: “Innovation and partnership describe the Northside Hub perfectly. Together we’ve taken an abandoned, dilapidated property and turned it into a sustainable, community-oriented hub that is an inspiring example for other cities in the Hudson Valley.”
The historic brick façade was insulated from the interior for energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Photo: Scott G. Morris Photography / Courtesy of Scenic Hudson.
Situated near Walkway Over the Hudson, the Dutchess Rail Trail, Fall Kill Creek, and the Marcus J. Molinaro Northside Line, the Hub forms part of a growing network of revitalized public spaces across Poughkeepsie. Since 2022, Scenic Hudson’s Pershing Community Farm adjacent to Pershing Avenue Park has produced over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce for local families. Meanwhile, improvements to Malcolm X Park and ongoing efforts to increase public access to Fall Kill Creek further reinforce the organization’s commitment to equity, recreation, and environmental health.
Scenic Hudson traces its origins back to 1963, when it successfully challenged industrial development at Storm King Mountain—a landmark environmental court decision that helped launch the modern grassroots environmental movement. Since then, the organization has protected over 31,000 acres, created more than 60 parks and preserves, and championed advocacy for responsible development across the Hudson Valley.
The Northside Hub exemplifies Scenic Hudson’s mission to “sustain and enhance the Hudson Valley’s inspirational beauty and health for generations to come.” It is both a nod to the region’s industrial heritage and a forward-looking model for adaptive reuse, climate resilience, and community empowerment.
