Borden Ice Cream Plant
Borden’s York Ice Factory, date unknown. The layout of this room is comparable to the upper level of the Greenville facility.
Constructed in 1923 as the Greenville Ice Cream Company and acquired by Borden in 1947, the Borden Ice Cream Factory served as a community landmark. Over time, however, the historic industrial complex became underutilized and disconnected from the surrounding growth. The challenge was to preserve the site’s historic significance while repositioning the facility for modern commercial use and long-term economic viability.
Navigating Structural Unknowns in an Historic Industrial Building
The adaptive reuse of the 40,000 SF facility required a highly strategic approach to understanding and stabilizing the existing structure before new work could begin. Existing conditions varied significantly throughout the building. Deteriorated areas, previous renovations, hidden structural unknowns, and signs of settlement were uncovered during investigation. The team carefully mapped structural capacity, documented past repairs, and evaluated areas of concern to determine where interventions could occur without compromising the integrity of the historic structure.
Rather than relying on broad structural replacement, the design team used targeted, surgical reinforcement strategies to support the building’s transformation into flexible tenant bays ranging from approximately 2,000 to 20,000 SF. New openings and modern interventions were carefully integrated using steel lintels, localized structural upgrades, and selective reinforcement that preserved as much of the original industrial fabric as possible while accommodating contemporary office, retail, and restaurant uses.
Transforming an Industrial Facility into a Modern Mixed-Use Destination
Elsie the cow, Borden’s mascot, was applied to the exterior graphics as a nod to the building’s history.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the redevelopment carefully balanced historic preservation with contemporary functionality. The design preserved defining industrial elements such as exposed structural systems, original masonry, steel windows, and the iconic Borden signage. New circulation, outdoor gathering areas, and transparent storefronts that reconnect the property to the surrounding neighborhood were also introduced.
Site planning focused on improving accessibility, pedestrian connectivity, and visibility between the property, Unity Park, and the downtown area. New outdoor spaces and courtyards transformed former service and loading areas into active community-oriented environments that support both tenants and visitors.
This redevelopment repositions the former ice cream plant as a vibrant commercial destination while preserving a piece of Greenville’s industrial history. Today, the Borden redevelopment supports new businesses, including Southern Tide Headquarters, attracts visitors, and creates renewed activity.
Awarded:
- SC AIA Adaptive Reuse / Historic Preservation Award
Learn More / Read Our Blogs:
- Transforming a Historic Textile Mill into a Thriving Community
- Designing for Cognitive Comfort: Rethinking Workplaces for Neurodiverse Talent
- or see a few adaptive-reuse projects:
Brains on Fire / Cigar Factory / Judson Mill.