Chilean Sugar Factory Project

In the field of modern industrial architecture, an increasing number of manufacturing projects are prioritizing the integration of architectural efficiency, spatial functionality, and visual appeal. The Cero K sugar refinery project in Chile serves as a prime example. Designed by Max-A and located between San Carlos and Chillán, this project represents a significant industrial development within the region’s sugar industry modernization efforts.

As one of Chile’s leading sugar producers, Iansa sought to construct a modern factory warehouse capable of meeting the storage and production demands for new sugar products. Despite an extremely tight schedule, the project was completed in just 4 months for design and 8 months for overall construction, once again demonstrating the advantages of steel-framed industrial buildings in the field of rapid construction.

The two-story warehouse stands 8.5 meters tall and measures 30 by 50 meters. It was designed to accommodate a variety of functional requirements. The actual sugar production process is the core of this project; therefore, a four-story-high (14-meter) central structure was designed, clad in translucent Alveolar Sunlite polycarbonate material, allowing the main body to function as both an independent and unifying element. The building’s appearance draws inspiration from the purity of domes and silos—two iconic features of sugar refineries.

The factory appears to be carved into the ground, responding to both private and public circulation patterns at various scales, including the flow of people, machinery, sugar production, and related logistics. The main warehouse’s exterior primarily utilizes perforated composite steel panels to address orientation and sunlight, providing shade and energy efficiency. This steel structure, resembling a toy, connects the surrounding structures at its center.