Oven Company went on to produce multiple lines of popular commercial convection ovens . Their products continue to be used by many large corporations and public institutions to this day . After the Blodgett Oven Factory began the process of relocating to its new location in Essex in 2017 , HULA ’ s founder Russ Scully purchased the property . Although Scully and the HULA team made significant design and architectural changes , they also made a conscious decision to honor the legacy of the Blodgett Oven factory by keeping a large portion of the original brick walls .
HULA ’ s CEO , Rob Lair , says that he got to witness the last oven made by the Blodgett Oven Company during the period when they were surveying the structure before the renovation . “ I was out there with a big piece of chalk at the end of a stick marking out different places that I thought would be good for conference rooms . We got to know everyone who was working on Blodgett ’ s assembly line in the process . I still remember the day that they made their last oven in Burlington . The Blodgett Oven team members put a cardboard sign on the oven and wrote ‘ Last Oven Made in Burlington ’ on it . They put the date on the sign and took a picture of it . I also took a picture of it , because I knew that it was a significant moment that was worth capturing .”
Tipping the Scales
Scully . “ They serve as reminders of what the space used to be , which keeps us grounded in our mission of moving Burlington ’ s economy forward into the future .”
Two unique handwashing towers with push pedals have also been kept as souvenirs of the Blodgett Oven era . One is located outside of the restroom at the main entrance of Building # 50 , and the other is located outside of the restroom near The Spot at HULA restaurant . HULA ’ s restrooms are also equipped with additional modern and streamlined sinks , and their walls are lined with repurposed wood , as well .
A Room for Every Occasion
The HULA campus is ideally-suited for events of all sizes . At the heart of Building # 50 , the adaptable “ Reef ” event space is able to host up to 500 people . An overhead projector allows for the seamless facilitation of professional presentations , and the space provides easy access to the on-site Reef Bar , a catering kitchen , an outdoor patio , and the Brio Café , which serves coffee and espresso drinks from 9AM-3PM . A wall of removable glass panels separates the event space from the main concourse , and the room is outfitted with comfortable leather couches and stylish hanging lanterns . “ One of the most attractive functions of the building is its ability to host large conferences ,” says Scully . “ When we first began the renovation , we felt that there was an opportunity to create an event venue at HULA that could accommodate sizable crowds . Our current aim with the space is to use it to attract more high-profile corporate conferences to Burlington . We want to drive economic development and create opportunities for more companies and entrepreneurs to find their way here .”
Several other notable vestigial features from the Blodgett Oven factory are on prominent display throughout both of HULA ’ s larger buildings , including the authentic industrial scale in Building # 44 , which houses many of HULA ’ s larger office spaces . Situated in the “ Delta ” Atrium area in Building # 44 , the scale is still completely functional . It rests near an intriguing decorative spiral staircase , which is covered with tropical potted plants . An additional scale is placed in front of the ordering counter at the on-site restaurant , The Spot at HULA . “ We intentionally left a few decorative novelty features that pay homage to the Blodgett business ,” says
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