American Standard Factory

Old bathroom fixtures factory in Hespeler. Portions of it were built in 1847. American Standard purchased it in 1969.

This was one of the main money-makers in Hespeler and helped lift the little town onto its feet. The factory closed in 2007. Ever since then the building has sat empty.

After many trips back, I finally found a way in. Turns out part of the building is being used by the Drayton Theatre company as a storage house for all their props & sets.

The building is now under video surveillance as well as a part time guard for nights. I have never run into anyone but I have friends who went at night and couldn(a)t access the building. All POE(a)s are locked up tight.

The building is being converted into Lofts.

----ishootthings edit----

On Google Maps Street View (which is NEVER EVER current) the factory was still under renovation. Now at his time of my visit 8/22/2020, the factory is fully repurposed. People live there. There is another building behind/beside the converted factory. The small portion I went at (if Im remembering the info board correctly) is a part of building "c". Of American Standard or one of the companies that owned this back in the day. There is a catwalk (NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY) but after my forray into the unknown a resident walking his dog watched me like a hawk and remarked how it "grinds his gears that people use this when they are not residents". I intentionally forgot to point out the "No Trespassing" sign way in the distance where the parking lot starts and booked it out of here. Like many places, STOOPID BUSY. The small rotting section of building "c" would make a VERY VERY nice valuable 2 bedroom unit. Just needs a new everything on the inside. The second floor is on the verge of collapse and I debated even going on the floor up there but as usual, I went against my better judgement. No risk no reward. Thats my motto recently.

FEB 2020 - The derelict portion of the factory conversion dubbed "Building C" is NOW UNDER RENOVATIONS! From the outside looking in its just about unrecognizable. A man walking his dog commented it was being turned into a piano bar on the lower level and a bit of office space on the upper floor. Nothing explorable no mo'. Twas a decent piece of history that was rotting but its nice to see it cared for with a new roof and beams inside. Its beautiful. Ill try to go when its active (if COVID ever fucks off).

I got permission to shoot the interior to show around ans showcase the great work they are doing over there. The building has a code lock and is impenetrable thru any other way.