Industrial garage or old single story garment factory conversions are extremely popular with hipsters. Many of the smaller places can be converted into...something. I've seen some beautiful conversions in Pioneer Square/downtown Seattle.

But the taller office buildings are much harder to convert, not impossible, and can lead to some stunning excesses (like really high ceilings with horrible heating costs) that wouldn't be possible in a direct for residential build.

> , some of them even make the plumbing added look more of an industrial design

This was probably out of necessity rather than aesthetics, but again, hipsters (especially rich ones) love this stuff.