The rise in office vacancies is fueling a boom in adaptive reuse projects.
In a guest article in D Magazine, Jason Weeks describes several major adaptive reuse projects making headway in Dallas. “As D CEO reported last year, downtown Dallas has seen about 20,000 multifamily units added in the past 25 years. That trend continues, and the growth will be in part due to office towers being redeveloped.”
As Weeks explains, “a building’s structure and skin are among a construction project’s highest costs, often accounting for a third of a project’s construction budget. Adaptive reuse projects help mitigate, or even eliminate, this expense, depending on the condition of existing elements and the changes a developer opts to make.”
Additionally, Weeks writes, existing buildings provide a safer workplace for construction workers and reduce delays caused by weather. Office buildings offer higher ceilings, more elevators, and other features that give architects more flexibility in repurposing the space.
FULL STORY: Three Benefits of Adaptive Reuse Projects
The Death of the Office?
Despite efforts on the part of many employers to bring workers back to the office, office buildings are now the most distressed segment of the commercial real estate market.
Dallas Ahead of the Game in Adaptive Reuse
Thanks in part to a state tax credit created in the early 2000s, downtown Dallas is set to create roughly 1,500 new housing units by converting office buildings to residential uses.
How Office Conversions Could Benefit San Francisco
The city could emulate Calgary, New York, and other cities in supporting office conversions as a way to boost floundering downtown economies and provide much-needed additional housing.
Eugene Ends Parking Minimums
In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.
How Paris, Texas Became a ‘Unicorn’ for Rural Transit
A robust coalition of advocates in the town of 25,000 brought together the funding and resources to launch a popular bus service that some residents see as a mobility lifeline—and a social club.
How ‘Daylighting’ Intersections Can Save Lives
Eliminating visual obstructions can make intersections safer for all users.
States Scramble in Wake of Clean Water Act Ruling
The removal of federal oversight of wetlands has left millions of acres unregulated and erected major hurdles for lawmakers seeking to protect them.
Brightline West Awarded $3 Billion in Federal Funding
The high-speed rail line will cut travel time between Southern California and Las Vegas roughly in half.
OKC Celebrates New Rapid Bus Line With Free Rides
The agency wants to showcase the benefits of a recently opened BRT line connecting the northwest part of the city to downtown.
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
