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The former Cecrisa factory, in the Próspera neighborhood, is expected to have its pavilions demolished in the coming months to make way for the Leonardo da Vinci Innovation Business Park in Criciúma. The project, estimated at R$ 200 million, marks the transition from an exporting ceramic symbol to a new technological hub in Santa Catarina in the southern region of the state.
A factory that helped Criciúma, in the south of Santa Catarina, gain international projection in the ceramic sector will be demolished to make way for a new innovation park. The structure belongs to the former Cecrisa pavilions in the Próspera neighborhood, and the change was announced on May 29, 2026.
According to the portal ND Mais, the project foresees the implementation of the Leonardo da Vinci Innovation Business Park, an enterprise estimated at R$ 200 million. The area, which for decades was linked to the production of coverings exported to more than 50 countries, is expected to begin a new urban, economic, and symbolic phase for Criciúma in the coming months.
Former Cecrisa factory marked the industrial history of Criciúma
For decades, the former factory of Cecrisa was one of the most representative structures of the Santa Catarina ceramic industry. From the pavilions located in the Próspera neighborhood came coverings that reached international markets and helped consolidate Criciúma as a national reference in the sector.
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The strength of the unit was also connected to the expansion of well-known brands, such as Cecrisa and Portinari. More than an industrial address, the complex became part of the city’s economic memory, associated with jobs, production, exportation, and the period when ceramics put the south of Santa Catarina in the spotlight.
Pavilions will be demolished to make way for a new innovation park
The old pavilions are expected to begin demolition in the coming months. The demolition physically ends an important stage of the local industry, but also makes room for a project that aims to reposition the area within an economy more focused on innovation, technology, and new businesses.
The future Leonardo da Vinci Innovation Business Park is estimated at R$ 200 million. The proposal is to transform a space once occupied by a traditional factory into a structure aimed at companies, services, and activities related to a new cycle of urban and economic development.
Change symbolizes transition between traditional industry and innovative economy
The transformation of the area shows a common change in cities that grew based on large industrial structures. When a factory ceases to operate or loses its original function, the challenge becomes deciding whether the space will be abandoned, preserved, or gain a new vocation.
In Criciúma, the chosen path is the replacement of the pavilions with a business park. The change does not erase the history of ceramics, but changes the role of the land in the city, no longer representing just industrial production but becoming a point of attraction for investments and future projects.
Cecrisa helped project Criciúma to the international market
The old factory played a significant role in the internationalization of Criciúma’s ceramic industry. The production associated with the complex reached more than 50 countries on five continents, a number that demonstrates the reach achieved by the Santa Catarina sector.
This global presence helped build Criciúma’s image as a ceramic hub. In many cases, industrial cities become known outside the country not through institutional campaigns, but through the strength of their products. It was this logic that allowed Santa Catarina ceramics to cross borders and reach different markets.
Demolition also affects memory, work, and urban identity
The demolition of a historic factory often generates mixed feelings. For part of the population, the pavilions represent the past, employment, and identity. For others, the demolition can be seen as an opportunity to reoccupy a strategic area with a function more compatible with current demands.
This type of urban change requires balance. The city needs to advance, but also preserve the memory of what made it relevant. In the case of the old Cecrisa, the symbolic weight lies precisely in the fact that the structure participated in the economic formation of Criciúma and the consolidation of the region as a ceramic hub.
200 Million BRL Park Could Create New Economic Axis
The estimated investment of 200 million BRL indicates that the new park will not just be a physical replacement of the pavilions. The proposal aims to create a more modern business environment capable of attracting activities related to innovation and economic diversification.
This movement could expand Criciúma’s role beyond traditional industry. The city, which grew with coal, ceramics, and manufacturing, now seeks to make room for technology, qualified services, and higher value-added businesses, without completely abandoning its historical base.
Próspera Neighborhood Enters New Phase of Urban Occupation
The Próspera neighborhood, where the old pavilions are located, will also be impacted by the change. Industrial areas of this size influence the flow of people, traffic, local commerce, real estate appreciation, and urban dynamics around them.
With the arrival of the innovation park, the region could see a new influx of professionals, companies, and services. At the same time, residents and merchants should closely monitor how the transformation will be executed and what practical effects it will have on the neighborhood’s daily life.
Now the question arises: is demolishing a historic structure to create an innovation park the right path to renew Criciúma, or should part of these pavilions be preserved as a memory of the Santa Catarina ceramic industry? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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