Renovation work outpaces new construction for first time in two decades

Renovations of older buildings in U.S. cities recently hit a record high as reflected in architecture firm billings, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA). As of spring 2022, the majority of billings came from retrofit work, not new construction. It’s the first time in the 20 years AIA data has shown that renovations have surpassed 50%, Bloomberg reports.

In 2005, as a pre-recession building boom neared its end, renovations composed about one-third of billings. That share has been increasing steadily since 2017, when it was 44.4%, and has risen to 52% this year.

Kermit Baker, AIA's Chief Economist, says that the last time the market was so heavily weighted toward renovations was likely during the Great Depression.

One quarter of renovations are for conventional interior modernizations and upgrades, and another quarter are adaptive reuse projects that change the function and program of a building. New tenant fit-outs comprise 17.8% of renovations.

A project to convert an underperforming mid-century office tower in Long Beach, Calif., created badly needed market rate housing with a significantly lowered carbon footprint. The adaptive reuse project, composed of 203,177 sf including parking, created 106 apartment units out of a Class B office building that had been vacant for about 10 years.

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Invest in existing buildings for your university

According to Nick Sillies of GBBN, students are increasingly asking: "How sustainable is your institution?" Reusing existing buildings may help answer that.

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University of Pittsburgh reinvents century-old Model-T building as a life sciences research facility

After opening earlier this year, The Assembly recently achieved LEED Gold certification, aligning with the school’s and community’s larger sustainability efforts.

Coatings | Dec 20, 2022

The Pier Condominiums — What's old is new again!

When word was out that the condominium association was planning to carry out a refresh of the Pier Condominiums on Fort Norfolk, Hanbury jumped at the chance to remake what had become a tired, faded project.

The Waltham Watch Factory courtyard after renovation. Photo © Richard Mandelkorn Photography

Urban housing revival: 3 creative multifamily housing renovations

This continuing education course from Bruner/Cott & Associates highlights three compelling projects that involve reimagining unlikely buildings for compelling multifamily housing developments.

Watermark District at WoodCreek_ Rendering Courtesy of Midway_0.jpg

Mixed-Use | Dec 6, 2022

Houston developer plans to convert Kevin Roche-designed ConocoPhillips HQ to mixed-use destination

Houston-based Midway, a real estate investment, development, and management firm, plans to redevelop the former ConocoPhillips corporate headquarters site into a mixed-use destination called Watermark District at Woodcreek.

Multifamily Housing | Nov 29, 2022

Number of office-to-apartment conversion projects has jumped since start of pandemic

As remote work rose and demand for office space declined since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, developers have found converting some offices to residential use to be an attractive option. Apartment conversions rose 25% in the two years since the start of the pandemic, with 28,000 new units converted from other property types, according to a report from RentCafe.

Transportation & Parking Facilities | Oct 20, 2022

How to comply with NYC Local Law 126 parking garage inspection rules

Effective January 1, 2022, New York City requires garage owners to retain a specially designated professional engineer to conduct an assessment and file a report at least once every six years. Hoffmann Architects + Engineers offers tips and best practices on how to comply with NYC Local Law 126 parking garage inspection rules.