A drive through just about any downtown in any city across the country has a common denominator—vacancies. What communities do with these empty spaces shows the power of adaptive reuse.
For developers, retrofitting a building typically saves money and creates a unique property. Many municipalities also offer incentives and tax credits to those who are willing to invest in a local project. But deciding what property is the right one for adaptive reuse can be tricky. Ankrom Moisan created “The Rule of Six” to guide its team in turning office space into rental housing. The rules include assessing the classification of the space, studying the size of the building, making sure there are operable windows, determining the walkability of the building to its community, considering the plate size of the building and evaluating the depth of the building’s footprint. The firm shared these rules and additional input with Building Design + Construction in a recent article.
Similarly, the New Yorker recently highlighted the work on Nathan Berman. The New York real-estate developer has never built a building from “scratch.” Instead, Berman reuses existing structures and turns them into apartments, which are always in demand in New York. That demand is extending nationwide with the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks reporting 4.3 million more apartments will be needed in the United States by 2035.
Reusing a structure goes beyond fixing one building. It improves an entire community whether it is for residential or commercial spaces. Of course not every building is suitable, but adaptive reuse compared to new construction has economic, sustainable, cultural, social, climate-related and other impacts.
The retrofitting of buildings also provides ample opportunities and space for curves.
Look at how a confidential financial tech firm worked with architect Gensler to make a unique work space at 1221 South Congress Ave. in Austin, Texas. The tenant-lease space grabbed attention for changing the vibe of the 12-structure Statehouse Building apartments on South Congress Avenue while still maintaining the “Keeping Austin Weird” vibe. This project was featured in the January/February 2024 issue of retrofit magazine.
Marek Brothers, Buda, Texas, worked as the framing and drywall subcontractor on the 6,650-square-foot office space with general contractor rand* Construction, Austin. Marek Brothers installed 16-gauge 6-inch and 20-gauge 3 5/8-inch Flex-C Trac and 20 gauge 2 ¼-inch Flex-C Angle. The distributor was L&W Supply, Round Rock, Texas.
Danny Hogan, estimator/project manager with Marek Brothers, says using Flex-Ability Concepts’ products was not part of the original plan. He substituted the products in the specs because of the large amounts of radius walls and furr downs in the office space.
“The install was smooth and easy,” Hogan says. “By switching to Flex-C Trac and Flex-C Angle, we had better production time and improved installation accuracy versus snipping standard track.”
The confidential financial tech firm takes up the top floors of the building with retail on the first floor. The developer, Turnbridge Equities, reports the goal of each retrofit project is to create a 9.5-acre mixed-use development that ultimately expands the history, energy and “Keep Austin Weird” feel that is part of the Statehouse Building apartment complex.
When you’re working on an adaptive reuse project and your customer asks for curves, clouds, light coves, barrel vaults and other radiused applications, think about Flex-Ability Concepts. Our job is to make contractors a success and curved installs easier in new and retrofit applications. Along the way, we can be part of an adaptive reuse that reinvigorates a community.
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