Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW; 1 AIBD P-CE; 0.1 IACET CEU
May qualify for learning hours through most Canadian architectural associations
It has been said that the greenest buildings are the ones that already exist. Adaptive reuse is the process of redeveloping structurally sound existing buildings for economically viable modern uses, infusing new life into a historic shell. Adaptive reuse can also allow a project to significantly reduce its embodied carbon as well as the volume of materials sent to landfill through construction, helping to achieve low-carbon construction goals.
Wood is a material well-suited to reuse, whether through the adaptive reuse of an existing structure or through deconstruction and disassembly. In particular, long-standing heavy timber beams in existing buildings and structures are sought after for their durability and strength, along with their aesthetic beauty and historic significance. In this course, we will examine several adaptive reuse case studies that feature wood construction, both heavy timber beams and more modern mass timber products.
In this webinar, three projects will be presented that illustrate these principles. Butler Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a nine-story historic tall timber building constructed as a warehouse more than 100 year ago. Today, Butler Square continues to operate as a vibrant sought-after mixed-use office building with modern amenities and sustainable design features. Milwaukee’s first mass timber building, Timber Lofts, is an adaptive reuse project that combines a 130-year-old warehouse renovation with new construction in an adjacent parcel. The two structures unite to create a 60-unit multi-family complex. Bellevue First Congregational Church in Bellevue, Washington, demonstrates adaptive reuse for commercial space into a church featuring mass timber new construction.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how adaptive reuse reduces a building’s embodied carbon and preserves authentic qualities of the built environment that provide a tangible link with the past.
- Describe several adaptations to historic post-and-beam structures to meet contemporary green building standards.
- Discuss how mass timber technologies can create an efficient transition from existing buildings to new construction by reducing project timelines and the volume of material waste sent to landfill.
- Explore the aesthetic and money-saving potential of cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction for adaptive reuse projects.
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