Giving Old Buildings a New Lease On Life

Within the past few years, we have observed a rise in the number of unoccupied and abandoned buildings and commercial spaces throughout regional city centres. Having more of an impact on smaller businesses, recent economic data and analysis have pointed to economic pressures, uncertainty, and the protracted measures instituted to limit the spread of coronavirus as being responsible for forcing many enterprises to close or shift to more suitable spaces outside of urban areas in an effort to reduce costs and ensure their survival.

Several property owners now find themselves in an undesirable position, unable to rent their properties at pre-pandemic levels and rates. With these buildings going underutilized and it is uncertain for how long, some may fall into disrepair or be altogether demolished. In a recent discussion with a building owner faced with this very challenge, we presented the idea of repurposing the building with the aim of making its spaces more modern, dynamic, energy efficient, and sustainable in an effort to appeal to and meet the needs of previously unconsidered types of tenants and organizations.

The process of doing so is known as Adaptive Reuse. It seeks to transform existing structures to satisfy different purposes and functionality distinct from their original design and intent. Typically aligned to historic preservation or conservation efforts around cities with rich histories, Adaptive Reuse is a growing international trend that is expected to become the norm. It has become an excellent way to save neglected buildings that may otherwise be torn down. The practice offers significant environmental and economic benefits by conserving natural resources, reducing waste and emissions, minimizing the need for new materials, and serving as a catalyst for other forms of urban revitalization and investment.

Around the world, defunct factories, malls, department stores, schools, and other structures have been converted into condominiums, apartments, medical facilities, restaurants, and other mixed use spaces. Old office buildings and complexes have been turned into cultural and entertainment hubs, churches, and destinations for the performing arts. Restaurants were appropriated into shared working spaces, training and educational facilities, gyms, and daycare centres. The possibilities are numerous and have been largely driven by the wider economy, levels of investment, municipal policy decisions, and the dynamic needs of the local population.

In order for any transformation to take place, a knowledgeable and experienced project team with a flair for creative problem solving is essential. This team would assist property and business owners in identifying suitable design options, potential constructability issues, and expected costs. These buildings must also be inspected and deemed structurally sound, as safety and accessibility are the two of the largest concerns with older buildings. Much of the construction technology available today allows for as-built conditions to be assessed relatively quickly by engineering professionals. The expected benefits of reusing any existing structure should outweigh the potential risks, costs, pitfalls, or challenges presented by any new construction.

Adaptive reuse projects send an important signal to policymakers, local governments, building owners, and key stakeholders about the inherent value in enhancing an area and its people. These investments can further stimulate a wide range of complementary economic activity and interests, including other transformative projects, upgrades to existing infrastructure, and new positive attitudes toward redevelopment initiatives.

When compared to new construction however, adaptive reuse projects require fewer materials, resources, labour, and heavy equipment. This then translates to reduced emissions, energy consumption, safety and quality issues, and costs. There is also no need to demolish a building and send more materials to a landfill, nor is there the need to purchase and develop new land. The utilities and services required for the establishment of a functioning building is already connected, offering additional time and cost savings. Older buildings often contain hazardous materials and adaptive reuse offers the possibility to have them safely removed and replaced with more sustainable alternatives.

Researchers have studied a number of these projects and estimated the time and cost savings of reuse projects to be about 40% - subject to the location, existing building condition, and intended functionality. Further encouraging these types of projects, cities around the world are offering additional concessions, tax breaks, and statutory support for not tearing down older buildings.

Whilst Adaptive Reuse may not always be the ideal solution for every situation, it certainly offers developers and building owners a viable alternative to engaging in all new construction or leaving an otherwise usable structure to languish. Adaptive Reuse offers a truly creative approach to solving our current building and development challenges, creating more modern and dynamic spaces for people and businesses, preserving an area's history, and reducing the impact of our construction activities on the environment. The goal of these projects should always be the maximation of the limited space and resources that we have, especially here in the Caribbean.

If you’re thinking about taking on a similar project, do contact us today - we will help you assemble the right team. For further reading on Adaptive Use, the following resources can provide additional insights and information: What is Adaptive Reuse Architecture, Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Adaptive Reuse.