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| Adaptive Reuse |
| by Adele Willson, AIA, LEED AP; Jennifer Cordes, AIA, LEED AP |
When a building outlives its original purpose, there may well be a second life waiting in the wings.
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Adaptive reuse is the process of modifying an old structure for a new use. I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of numerous building transformations that have benefited educational facilities and the communities they serve.
When a building outlives its original purpose, there may well be a second life waiting in the wings. We’ve seen it with warehouses turned into lofts, a power station into a museum, and now with schools.
In many instances, it is more efficient, economic, and environmentally responsible to re-develop older buildings than to build new. Structures originally designed with long-lasting, durable building materials can provide a solid foundation to inhabit a myriad of occupants.
The preservation or adaptive reuse process often begins with an assessment of a building’s existing conditions. Consultants may evaluate a building and site based on a variety of categories, helping to identify potential costs, trade-offs, synergies, or the need for additional spaces. The following case studies provide a look at two successful adaptive reuse projects.
Challenges, Choices, and Images
Challenges, Choices, and Images Learning Academy (CCI) is a charter school that serves multicultural children, children from low-income families, and students wanting a more positive learning environment. The school was disjointed in several locations and did not provide a suitable setting for the growing population. The mission was to design a building that would bring a sense of cohesion to the school and celebrate the cultural heritage of the students and faculty.
After searching for several years for an appropriate site, CCI purchased the former Samsonsite Corporation headquarters building that was set to be demolished. We were engaged as the design team to help assess the facility for an academic setting.
The classic mid-60’s office building had been well-maintained as executive offices, and it was determined that with a thoughtful renovation plan it would transform into a beautiful and functional new setting for CCI.
A wall of glass that had been tucked behind the interior offices’ spaces provided plentiful natural lighting. Four classrooms grouped around a central open space, creating a pod, were carved out of the corporate offices, and a gymnasium was added to the original building. A total of eight pods on two levels make up the academic portion of the school with two pods on the first level designed to accommodate a daycare. In plan, the building is reminiscent of African symbolism due to its diagonal nature. Vibrant colors that speak to the student’s African heritage were used throughout the school.
Today, the facility accommodates up to 850 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and 204 children from infants to age four. The total cost of the renovation was $7.2M and provides a total of 112,595 sq. ft.
University Center for the Arts
The former Fort Collins High School built in 1924 will become Colorado State University's Center for the Arts opening September 2008. When the high school outgrew its facility, the district worked with the community at large to find a buyer for the property. Colorado State University stepped up to the plate after evaluating the building for a number of potential uses. An original program plan study and in-depth analysis assessed the feasibility to house the music, theatre, and dance departments for the University.
When completed, the project will include 173,000 sq. ft. of new and renovated space for a projected construction cost of $32M.
The first phase in the development of the University Center for the Arts (UCA) is the 21,500-sq.-ft. addition for the 500-seat Edna Rizley Griffin concert hall. The concert hall was designed to provide acoustical excellence in the performance space while honoring the historic character of the existing building. Limestone element fragments salvaged from the 1952 addition façade are featured in the lobby. Columns from the historic building are reinterpreted on the exterior of the addition and used as decorative column wraps inside the lobby.
The second phase includes The Bohemian Complex, a $4.7M retrofit of the former high school gymnasium. The 318-seat University Theatre, 100-seat Studio Theatre, 2,400-sq.-ft. William Runyon Music Hall, and another 4,500 sq. ft. of production shops, dressing room, green room, audio-visual equipment rooms, and supporting spaces are housed in the former gymnasium.
Phase three completes the project and includes the renovation and adaptive reuse of the majority of the old high school. This phase includes a 200-seat recital hall, 200-seat dance studio theatre, 50-seat cabaret/acting lab, historic costume gallery, and visual arts gallery. The new gallery spaces require humidification, so a detailed wall construction was required to accommodate the humidification system in an existing building.
Both CCI and UCA are examples of buildings that served their original purpose for years and now stand as fully-functioning educational and arts facilities. These successful adaptations remind us that in many cases the most viable and environmentally-friendly approach may be the reuse of an existing facility recycled and revitalized for a new purpose.
Adele Willson, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal and Jennifer Cordes, AIA, LEED AP, is a senior associate with SLATERPAULL Architects, a third-generation architecture practice celebrating 35 years in business and specializing in the design of sustainable educational facilities. For more information, visit www.slaterpaull.com.
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| Source: SP&M, May 2008 |
Copyright 2010, Peter Li, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, redisseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Peter Li, Inc. |
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