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.