Building design must evolve with humanity. Multiple factors currently contribute to changing downtown landscapes, including climate change and the rise of telework. There’s also a growing awareness of how the lack of natural light and outdoor green spaces affect human health and the need to rebuild a sense of community. Turning unused architecture into thriving business spaces requires understanding these factors.
Revitalizing the old is more cost-effective and sustainable than building from scratch. However, integrating the traditional world of work with modern realities requires a mindful approach. Here’s what architects and their crews should consider when redesigning business spaces.
One of the goals modern architects should embrace when turning unused architecture into business spaces is designing them for a circular economy. That means considering the back end of the building’s life cycle and enabling multiple uses of the same materials before recycling them. Doing so can spare as much as 24% of the total carbon produced by the structure from ending up in the landfill.
What does this principle look like in practice? A relevant example includes retrofitting many downtown high-rises for mixed business and residential use. Doing so addresses the problems of offices left vacant by telework and the affordable housing crisis, yet remains complicated in part due to the lack of infrastructure for bathrooms and kitchens. Construction companies should design plumbing and electrical systems for easier conversions.
Such projects require ingenuity and close coordination between architects, contractors specially trained in the management and oversight of retrofitting buildings and environmental consultants. The question is not how people will use this building over the next 20 years but for the next century or more.
This careful planning confers financial and time-saving benefits while promoting greater sustainability. Adaptive reuse construction currently costs about 16% less than new building projects and takes 18% less time to complete. Planning for a structure’s entire life cycle when undergoing renovations also reduces potential future expenses.
Multiple factors must collide for the world to meet its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, including designing more energy-efficient buildings. Additionally, such business structures can play a crucial role in America’s clean energy future.
Deep-energy retrofits often entail considerable upfront expenses but save money in the long run. More importantly, they conserve precious resources. They can reduce site energy use by 40%, including decreasing emissions and water usage.
One notable example is the Almeric L. Christian Federal Building, which now sees $500,000 a year in annual savings. Others are the King and Brickell federal buildings, which achieved 43% in energy savings and 40% in water.
Deep-energy retrofits affect the following building systems:
One exciting area architects can examine while transforming unused architecture is retrofitting buildings to produce energy independently. For example, emerging technologies can power many office devices, and employees also get a productivity boost from exposure to more natural light.
Rooftop photovoltaic panels can blend into green roof designs. Additionally, facilities with parking lots might slash their energy bills, grow their bottom line or both by installing roofs covered by such panels. They can sell excess power to the grid while providing comfortable, shaded parking for employees and customers alike — even a spot to charge their electric cars.
A sustainability concept many embrace is that of the 15-minute city. Such designs aim to promote walking and cycling, reducing car use by having necessities like schools, groceries and shops within a 15-minute walk of home. Retrofitting unused architecture plays a pivotal role in such concepts when done right.
For example, it was once common for small-business owners to occupy apartments above their shops. Those transforming downtown high-rises can embrace this concept on a larger scale. Lower floors might contain fitness centers and restaurants, with office and learning spaces occupying the next tier. Apartments could top it all off with individual dwellings for employees and students.
Such concepts work best with buy-in from city planners and neighboring property owners. For example, a bike pathway will see little use if it only extends for one block. Coordination between multiple parties facilitates the creation of green corridors to improve worker and resident health, increases exposure to the outdoors and reduces pollution. Tree-lined pedestrian pathways can connect a series of courtyards and contain a mix of children’s play areas and quieter outdoor work, study or dining spaces.
Transforming unused architecture into thriving business spaces requires a mindful approach and considerable communication and coordination between multiple parties. When done right, it limits urban sprawl by reusing preexisting materials and prevents old buildings from becoming derelict eyesores.
Retrofitting old buildings already saves expenses over building new ones. Considering the structure’s entire life cycle, including how needs may change, improves sustainability and prevents future costs. Looking at each project as part of a larger whole to improve daily human life guides architects and contractors in making decisions whose influence they’ll see reflected in the built environment for centuries to come.
Alex Quin is a full-stack marketing expert and global keynote speaker. Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of UADV Marketing - a member of the Forbes Agency Council.
