General Info
Old Buildings Finding New Use Through “Adaptive Reuse”
Synopsis:
Using a number of key adaptive reuse projects as examples, Sonja Bijelic shows that while such projects may be difficult they also carry several business and architectural advantages. Such projects can provide financial, cultural, and marketing perks. Marrying the old buildings with new ideas has been very successful over the years. Regardless of the building’s original use, with proper planning and research a new use can be found for many vacant, unused buildings. Many buildings offer features that aren’t currently incorporated in new construction today – such as the large wide corridors found in old utility buildings that have made for spacious office and museum space. Bijelic makes an interesting point about permanence – the reuse of an old building carries the longevity of the structure over to the occupant. The new occupant may be perceived (or marketed) as a mark of stability within the community, just like the building.
Hidden Treasures
Publication Date:
June 1, 2010Written By:
Joseph Lee LEED AP and Andrew Wolfram LEED APSource:
Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C)Read more...
Synopsis:
Joseph Lee and Andrew Wolfram provide a great overview of the initial steps and actions that should be taken when undergoing an adaptive reuse project. These steps can help provide the foundation for a successful and sustainable reuse of an old building. The first step is to examine the existing building to determine those elements that may be most useful in the repurposed building. By determining the pros and cons of the existing structure, you can make the most of the building resource. This examination will also help to evaluate what potential programming may be possible within the space. A specific element when looking at the existing structure is to also review any modifications or renovations that may have occurred over the course of the building’s history. Doing so may find some modifications that actually work against the usability of the space and may then need to be removed. Finally, if the building can be or is listed as a historic building, a tax credit may be available. By ensuring that the adaptive reuse is sensitive to the historical shell, the project costs may be reduced by such a credit.
Historic Preservation and Sustainability Go Hand In Hand
Publication Date:
April 4, 2010Written By:
Green Theater InitiativeSource:
The Center for Sustainable Practice in the ArtsRead more...
Synopsis:
Adaptive reuse is closely tied to historic preservation and sustainability. While not all adaptive reuse projects utilize historically registered buildings, many historic preservation projects incorporate some adaptive reuse of the space. The greenest building is always the building already built, making the reuse of an existing building highly sustainable. This article goes into exactly how historic preservation and sustainability are related. It looks at the general process for both avenues and how they can be joined together.
Adaptive Reuse – Lessons from Civil Engineering
Synopsis:
Shane Hastie looks at the crossover between adaptive reuse in the built world with software development. Although he singles out adaptive reuse as a civil engineering aspect (it’s far broader as it includes architects, planners, and developers), he makes a good point that adaptive reuse is used in software engineering. The ultimate message is that adaptive reuse actually exists all around us. He however only discusses the definition of adaptive reuse but does not go into any detail regarding the elements and how they cross over. He seems to focus on how players in a real estate development project must “adapt” to changing requirements and constraints during the building process, but that is not adaptive reuse. His underlying concept however is an intriguing one. It may be interesting to really seem how “adaptive reuse” exists in other field rather than just the built environment.
Old Walls, New Uses
Publication Date:
December 18, 2009Written By:
Mariwyn EvansSource:
International Business Times Real EstateRead more...
Synopsis:
Adaptive reuse is a labor of love and Ms. Evans shows us the process necessary to find and promote the opportunity that an old building provides. While an old building can offer prime location, there are some potential issues you should be aware of prior to starting such a project: costs, permitting, environmental. There are three primary steps to follow before beginning. The first is to find an appropriate property; consider physical constraints, structural feasibility, marketability, code issues, and zoning requirements. The second is to determine the market needs and will that fit with the potential use of the building. The final element is funding (adaptive reuse projects are now easier to fund than new developments due to their potential for downtown revitalization).
Making Green Places Thru Adaptive Re-Use & Historic Preservation
Publication Date:
June 25, 2009Written By:
Mary Ann HeidemannSource:
Land Policy Institute - Michigan State UniversityRead more...
Synopsis:
Dr. Mary Ann Heidemann outlines the potential for adaptive reuse and the benefits this effort can provide. She focuses on the green perspective – saved energy and land. She emphasizes that “the greenest building is the one that has already been built.” Due to their “low road” type, industrial buildings are perfect for adaptive reuse as their designs and layout are not unique. This allows the building to be used in any potential fashion. She walks through a number of successful projects. The presentation closes by positing that “adaptive re-use of historic downtowns makes for great places” which is important to a successful knowledge economy.