Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive reuse transforms existing buildings for new purposes—preserving embodied energy, reducing waste, and maintaining community character.

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🏚️ Adaptive Reuse Overview

🔍 Assess	📐 Design	🔧 Renovate	✨ Activate
Evaluate potential	Plan new use	Update systems	Bring to life

🎯 Purpose: Give existing buildings new life rather than building new

🌍 Impact: Preserve embodied energy, reduce waste, maintain community fabric

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🎯 Why Reuse

🎯 The Case for Adaptive Reuse

Environmental Benefits

Benefit	Explanation
💨 Lower carbon	No new material production
🏗️ Embodied energy	Preserved in existing structure
🗑️ Less waste	No demolition debris
📦 Fewer new materials	Renovation vs new build

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Economic Benefits

Benefit	Explanation
💰 Lower cost	Often cheaper than new
⏱️ Faster timeline	Foundation exists
🏛️ Historic credits	Tax incentives available
📈 Character premium	Unique spaces valued

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Community Benefits

Benefit	Explanation
🏘️ Neighborhood fabric	Maintain character
📜 Historic preservation	Cultural continuity
👥 Community identity	Familiar landmarks
🚫 Avoid displacement	Work with existing

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Comparison

Factor	New Construction	Adaptive Reuse
💨 Carbon	Higher	Lower
🗑️ Waste	Demolition + new	Minimal
⏱️ Timeline	Longer	Often shorter
🎨 Character	Generic possible	Unique
🏛️ Incentives	Limited	Tax credits

🔍 Assessment

📐 Planning

🔧 Renovation

✨ Examples

📋 Process

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📊 Adaptive Reuse Carbon Comparison

Example: 10,000 sq ft Building

Approach	Embodied Carbon
🏗️ Demolish + new	100% new = 500 tons CO2e
🏚️ Adaptive reuse	30% new = 150 tons CO2e
Savings	350 tons CO2e (70%)

Plus avoided demolition waste: ~500 tons to landfill

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🏚️ Reuse First

Before building new:

1. 🔍 Look for existing buildings

2. 📊 Assess adaptation potential

3. 📐 Design thoughtfully

4. 🔧 Renovate sustainably

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🔗 Related Pages

🌱OverviewBuilding StandardsConstructionCircular Economy