The former House of Industry (also known as House of Diligence), where Varvarskaya and Akademika Blokhinoi streets meet, is an icon of Nizhny Novgorod's architecture. This is an Art Nouveau building constructed in the early 20th century. The residents of the House of Industry made baskets, wove mats and sold their wares on the spot. The second floor accommodated a library, schools and church services.

During World War I, a hospital was set up in the building. In the 1920s, printing equipment from printing houses all over Nizhny Novgorod was brought here. Closed only a few years ago, Nizhpolygraph had been one of the largest and oldest printing houses in the whole of Russia. Today, Nizhpolygraph is leading a new life. It has become a center of gravity in many ways — now it houses the multimedia art space TSEKH*, Kinofaktura space, many workshops and stores, and the Center of Theater Arts where trending productions by contemporary authors are made.