Items Tagged ‘sustainability’
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.
Adrian Smith Develops “Decarbonization” Plan for Cities
Publication Date:
October 29, 2009Written By:
Nadine M. PostSource:
Architectural RecordRead more...
Synopsis:
The architectural firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is developing a program to help cities reduce their carbon footprint. The planning framework focuses on sustainable retrofits and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The intention is to use the model being developed for Chicago’s Loop area in other cities.
Rethinking Sixty Years of Sprawl
Synopsis:
Andre Shashaty of Partnership for Sustainable Communities looks at how the past sixty years created the “faceless ’sprawlburbs.’” He notes that while residents, politicians, and scientist are now coming to grips with the environmental impact that development type has had on our communities, there is a new focus to move back in toward the central city. As he states, “there is hope for even the most distressed cities to make a comeback.” This requires reinvestment “in the existing urban centers” through reuse of the infrastructure and restoration of underutilized or abandoned property.
Web Exclusive: A Study in Adaptive Reuse
Publication Date:
November 1, 2009Written By:
John BergmannSource:
Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C)Read more...
Synopsis:
Interior Partnership Group (IPG) outlines the reasons and process they went through to adaptively reuse an old manufacturing building to house their company. Due to the real estate market particularly in Detroit, IPG found it advantageous to purchase an old building rather than build new. “Underutilized or vacant property, growing in number after months of increasing unemployment, create very affordable conditions for adaptive reuse.” They were able to adapt the distinct old office and shop space into their customer and office space. Through the project, they incorporated a number of sustainability concepts to help demonstrate to their customers the benefits of their service.