From the High Line in New York City to the Tate Modern in London, adaptive reuse is all around us. A term that refers to the process where existing buildings are reused in a different capacity to their original purpose, adaptive reuse is the apex of creativity in construction. 

Known for its sustainability and architectural preservation, adaptive reuse can minimize waste and maximize savings of cost and time. But it’s the versatility of adaptive reuse that’s truly powerful, and there are endless genres underneath its umbrella. 

Below, we’ll look at how adaptive reuse is injecting new life into the way buildings are constructed.

Live Where You Learn: Schools Become Housing

Many areas are currently suffering from a housing shortage, and the conversion of former schools into apartment buildings and condominiums could alleviate that pressure. Schools are common options for conversion into housing due to their stunning architectural details, like high ceilings and big windows. 

In Boston, several historic schools have shut down in favor of newer facilities that cater to young students. As a result, their historic structures sit vacant. But since people love historic homes, these buildings are sometimes converted into residences. 

“Classrooms are turned into units and offices, labs and cafeterias into amenity spaces, and courtyards into gardens,” Adam J. Stein, executive vice president of WinnDevelopment, told the Boston Globe. 

Stein was on the team that turned the former Mary E. Wells School into the Residences at Wells School, a 62-unit affordable apartment community for seniors. Boasting modern amenities with the historic grandeur, the property serves as a great example of adaptive reuse’s power. However, the trend isn’t just a New England phenomenon. At the Zenith DCHS Apartments in Duluth, Minnesota, a Richardsonian Romanesque-style high school is now an apartment building with views of Lake Superior and an indoor pickleball court.

Converting with Creativity: Commercial Reuse

Commercial reuse transforms existing buildings into new, functional spaces. They could be of various origins, ranging from baseball parks and empty factories to a defunct shopping mall or hotel. The diversity of commercial reuse is a strong part of its beauty, as seen through the many ways it’s put to use. 

In Salt Lake City, the former Smith’s Ballpark is set to become a combination of green space, neighborhood markets, and housing, combining an entertainment venue, creative spaces, and retail. They’ll be preserving the west stands of the ballpark, which could hold around 4,000 people for events and concerts. In the center, where the baseball diamond currently stands, will become a neighborhood square and outdoor concert venue. There will also be a new fire station and library, providing valuable civic spaces for the neighborhood. 

Additional examples of creative commercial conversions are everywhere. In California, Gensler transformed One Westside, a former shopping mall, into a 584,000-square-foot creative campus entirely leased by Google. As shopping malls continue to redefine themselves, it’s powerful to see how people in the field of construction and design are expanding their view of what a building can be. 

The Work Is Done: Office-to-Housing Conversions 

The pandemic transformed the downtown area of many cities, and several former office buildings ended up sitting vacant. Transforming them into housing is a revolutionary mission that several cities are actively pursuing. 

In July 2023, Boston announced the Downtown Residential Conversion Incentive Pilot Program, which launched the following October. The program offers a tax abatement of up to 75% for up to 29 years for downtown office buildings that convert to residential use. To be eligible, projects must comply with affordability requirements and the Massachusetts stretch energy code, ensuring conversions result in high-performance green housing that remains accessible to all incomes, according to the US Green Building Council. 

People are clearly already interested: To date, the city has received 15 applications, which would create 760 housing units over 667,000 square feet in downtown Boston. There are three historic buildings in Downtown Boston currently marked for transformation into housing, including 31 Milk Street, which currently functions as a post office. 

In other states, several bills have been introduced during the 2025 state legislative sessions that seek to support commercial-to-residential conversions, including Missouri and Minnesota. In Chicago, office-to-housing conversions will increase by 28%. 

The desire to turn offices into housing isn’t just an urban idea, however. Several suburbs are considering office-to-housing conversions because the housing shortage is so significant. Rural towns are also considering adaptive reuse. At Catawba Vale Innovation Market in Old Fort, North Carolina, vacant spaces will be transformed into a mixed-use development featuring a film studio, meeting spaces, a small manufacturing facility, commissary kitchen, coffee shop and co-working space.  

Looking Ahead

Everything old is new again, and conversions are testaments to the idea that if people are willing to be creative enough, they can make something extraordinary. Certainly, there can be downsides to adaptive reuse, like complex planning and high price tags. But that doesn’t dismiss the upsides.

One developer, who converted the previously-mentioned school in Duluth, told Axios how coveted historic conversions are when it comes to housing. 

“The market loves it,” he noted. “People were fighting over [the bookshelves], saying, ‘Can you move this one up to this apartment?'”

The interest in “reused” buildings is strong, and it’s only getting stronger. As we look toward a more sustainable future, the businesses that actively seek out more adaptive reuse projects will be the ones that have staying power.