THINGS TO CONSIDER FOR
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Adaptive Reuse refurbishes the urban fabric of our cities.
As communities evolve, there is a need to transition outdated buildings to support cities into the future.
The benefits of Adaptive Reuse are clear.
LOCATION
Many outdated buildings are located in prime urban centers.
TIMELINE
With the structure of the building in place, a developer can get to market quicker, leading to a higher return on investment.
SUSTAINABILITY
Saving the outer core of a building is good for the environment and automatically makes the building more sustainable.
AUTHENTICITY
The history of the building provides a unique quality that reflects the area and, increasingly, residents are looking for living environments that speak to them and the locality.
Hear more about Adaptive Reuse from
Steve Smith, Principal at Cooper Carry.
Case Study: Office to Residential Conversion
THE FOUNDRY
Alexandria, VA
Once home to the U.S. Department of Defense, The Foundry, a 741,000 SF office building, was converted into a residential tower, comprising 520 units and 25,000 SF of retail space and parking.
Completed in 2020, the transformation took less time than a competing new build located across the street. Leasing went quickly, and the building was ultimately sold, in what CoStar called, “the Priciest Multifamily Deal of 2021.”
Three areas needed to be addressed to turn The Foundry from an outdated office building into a luxurious residential complex.
1. Reconfiguring the floor plan.
Office floor plate dimensions are drastically different from residential. Creative floor plans need to maximize the number of units with access to daylight, as required by city codes.
The placement of units along the perimeter of the building optimizes daylight for the residents, and creates a feeling of openness in each loft-style apartment. Additional spaces unsuitable for living were used for a variety of storage options onsite.
2. Refreshing the exterior.
Full concrete and industrial office buildings often need a less intimidating façade that fits with the style of the local architecture.
The façade dated back to 1972, taking on the historic, brick-clad institutional feel that was once common in government buildings. Instead of laying masonry brick-by-brick, we reskinned the building in red brick-faced, precast concrete panels to fit the style of the neighborhood.
3. Ramping up amenities.
Excess space can be dedicated to distinctive amenities that set the property apart from others in the area.
Rightsizing the office to residential conversion meant that a significant amount of square footage could be allocated to amenities, and Cooper Carry created bespoke options to stand out in the marketplace.
Case Study: Office to High School Conversion
NORTH ATLANTA HIGH SCHOOL
Atlanta, GA
This former IBM Corporate Campus has been transformed into a new high school that accommodates 2,350 students.
To foster connection among students, the top eight floors were designed to create four small learning communities, each housed on two floors.
These focal spaces create a place for students to connect, hang out, and identify as their own space.
Each features a large double-level public space with a dramatic, connecting staircase.
Case Study: Historic Church to Residential Conversion
THE BELL TOWER AT STANTON PARK
Washington DC
Morningstar chose to purchase and redevelop a historic church originally built in 1891 – that sits within the Capitol Hill Historic District in Washington DC – into residential condominiums.
Only a handful of blocks from the U.S. Capitol without any neighboring high rises, the view from the tower, once nicknamed “the lighthouse on the hill” is unique and unparalleled in the area.
The first challenge was to determine the quantity and layout of the units. Limited street parking held the number of units to six per zoning requirements.
Since horizontal divisions would impact the intricate stained-glass windows that lined the exterior, as the designer and architect for the project, Cooper Carry decided to divide the building vertically into six three-story units suffused with light and lofty 15-foot ceiling heights.
The design celebrates the historic nature of the site and structure by incorporating unique retained elements of the church—hardwood floors, arches and columns, floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows, exposed brick, and stone walls, as well as an interior domed ceiling in one unit, two fireplaces in another, and turrets in two others.
All stained-glass windows were removed, cleaned, and painstakingly rebuilt. Lighter-colored glazing was replaced with clear glass to allow some transparency without changing the exterior appearance per Historic regulations. The finished design has been well received by both neighbors and prospective buyers.
The first challenge was to determine the quantity and layout of the units. Limited street parking held the number of units to six per zoning requirements.
Since horizontal divisions would impact the intricate stained-glass windows that lined the exterior, as the designer and architect for the project, Cooper Carry decided to divide the building vertically into six three-story units suffused with light and lofty 15-foot ceiling heights.
The design celebrates the historic nature of the site and structure by incorporating unique retained elements of the church—hardwood floors, arches and columns, floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows, exposed brick, and stone walls, as well as an interior domed ceiling in one unit, two fireplaces in another, and turrets in two others.
All stained-glass windows were removed, cleaned, and painstakingly rebuilt. Lighter-colored glazing was replaced with clear glass to allow some transparency without changing the exterior appearance per Historic regulations. The finished design has been well received by both neighbors and prospective buyers.
Built with Shorthand