Laurentian Architecture Master’s Students Reimagine Historic Factories in the Azores

October 30, 2026 — Eleven master’s students from Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture have attracted attention for their work exploring new uses for two historic factories in the Azores.

As part of their Master’s Community Design Studio, the students travelled to São Miguel Island in early October to study the former Sugar Factory in Ponta Delgada and Alcohol Factory in Lagoa. Their semester-long project explores how these former industrial sites could serve new purposes while preserving their heritage and connections to the surrounding communities.

Led by Louis-Pierre Bélec, Assistant Professor at the McEwen School of Architecture, the design studio responds to reports developed by the Azores Regional Section of the Order of Architects following public consultations about the factories’ future.

In an interview with Açoriano Oriental, Bélec explained that the goal is to explore opportunities for the sites and “to enthuse community members and demonstrate that these buildings can have a second life.”

Before travelling, students used digital survey data and 360-degree imagery to explore the buildings through Laurentian’s Virtual Reality Lab. They also studied the Azorean context through archival research, architectural case studies, film, and literature.

During their visit, the group documented existing conditions and began preliminary design exercises on site. Their research incorporates light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, which uses lasers to create detailed three-dimensional representations of buildings, alongside 360-degree imagery.

For participating student Melissa Favas, understanding the factories’ relationship with local residents is central to considering their future.

“The surrounding community depended heavily on the factory. They had even created a residential area for them to live nearby,” Favas told Açoriano Oriental.

Students shared their preliminary work at an exhibition at the University of the Azores, where they spoke with community members. They also collaborated with the regional Order of Architects and architecture master’s students from the University of Coimbra, who are undertaking a similar project. Bélec delivered a guest lecture at Coimbra, sharing the studio’s work and survey methods.

The project received coverage from local media outlets RTP Açores, Açoriano Oriental, and the regional Order of Architects, whose television news segment featured interviews with students and Prof. Bélec.

Students will present their final designs on December 15, with architect Elisia Neves joining as a guest critic and University of Coimbra students attending virtually.

Their completed proposals are then planned for exhibition on São Miguel to continue community dialogue about the factories’ future. The students’ work is also expected to appear in an Azorean cultural publication at the end of 2027.