Taichung City’s historic building “Empire Sugar Factory Taichung Office” documents the history of the sugar industry’s development in Taiwan, thus Taichung City Government implemented a restoration project to transform it into “Taichung Industry Museum”. The Operate-Transfer (OT) method will be applied to solicit investment and introduce new vigor to the old town. The project is slated for completion by the end of next year. According to Mayor Chia-lung Lin, Empire Sugar Factory is the most iconic historical building in Taichung, in order to allow the citizens to understand the provenance of the city. In conjunction with the renewal of the City Center, Taichung Overpass and Luchuan Canal environment creation project, it will become an important historic landmark in Taichung.

In order to develop and preserve the culture and memory of Taichung’s industries, the city government has designed the Empire Sugar Factory restoration and scenic park construction project via the zone expropriation approach. The restoration project commencement ceremony was held on the 29th, which saw attendance from dignitaries including: Mayor Lin, Cultural Affairs Bureau Deputy Director-general Ming-heng Huang, Land Administration Bureau Deputy Director-general Chih-neng Liu, Cultural Heritage Department of Taichung City Director Chih-fu Li, East District Executive Hui-wen Chiang, representatives from the office of City Councilors Min-cheng He, Kung-chin Cheng, Su-chen Chiu, Chao-kuo Chiang, Ya-min Chang and Chung Li, as well as Legislator Kuo-shu Huang. The guests all conducted the roof tile hanging ceremony, symbolizing the commencement of the project.

Mayor Lin commented that Empire Sugar Factory restoration is an iconic old city renewal project, which not only re-creates the former glory of Taichung’s history but also enable the city to embrace the new era. Taichung city was conceived by the North-South Line railroad, and the “rice-sugar” economy of the rear train station provided the foundation for developments in industry and commerce at the front train station. In particular, Empire Sugar Factory is an extremely important piece of architecture that has been preserved; after restoration is completed in the future, it will be transformed into “Taichung Industry Museum”, expected to be opened in 2019.

“Taichung Industry Museum” will present the development history of Taichung’s industries, including the “Grease Monkey Den” in Southeast District, industries in the East District, Taichung Sugar Refinery and the sugar industry as well as the history and literature of machinery and pastry related industries in Taichung. In addition to guided tours, diverse theme exhibitions and performances will also be organized. In the future, in conjunction with the renewal of the City Center, Taichung Overpass and Luchuan Canal environment creation project, the old town will be completely transformed.

Mayor Lin also pointed out, the area features an extensive scenic park and ecological lake, where citizens can take a stroll and listen to music, or admire the elevated railway’s multigenerational station. The Empire Sugar Factory is the best living historic architect in Taichung, allowing citizens to appreciate the city’s provenance and look forward to the renewal of the old city. The reuse of old buildings has culminated in the transformation of Empire Sugar Factory into a very important historic landmark.

“Empire Sugar Factory Taichung Office” is located in Quanyuan District, Taichung City, inside the land lot allocated for park use (Park Land Lot 136) near Leye Rd. and Jinde Rd. intersection. Founded in 1935, it was used as the “Taichyu Factory of Teikoku Seitou K.K” (Empire Sugar Factory Taichung Office) during the Japanese Occupation Period. After the war it became the Taichung Office of Taiwan Sugar Corporation. In the 1990s, the factory ceased production and it was gradually demolished over the years. The office is the only remaining Japanese Occupational Period architecture in the compound, featuring historic significance in terms of industrial development and the monopoly system. In July 2007, it was officially registered as a historic building.