Businesses, developers, and civic leaders are repurposing existing structures to celebrate history, attract tenants, and serve as a catalyst for future development.
In Flint, Mich., an 1895 brick structure considered the birthplace of the global auto industry has been reimagined as a community resource and showcase of the legacy of General Motors. Located on the city’s riverfront, the former carriage-assembly building now houses offices, event space, a heritage center, and a research library with archives from Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute).
SmithGroupJJR oversaw the restoration to help GM preserve its heritage with the city and spur economic development. “Across the country, we’re seeing that the historic preservation and restoration of a single building can reenergize an entire urban district,” says Lise Newman, AIA, SmithGroupJJR’s Director of the Workplace Practice.
In Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, the former headquarters of lease-to-own retailer Aarons is being turned into the 309 East Paces Ferry office/retail complex. Former Aaron’s CEO Robin Loudermilk partnered with developers Knox Properties and the Redan Group to redevelop the 11-story tower.
ALSO SEE: BD+C Giants 300 reconstruction giants
Top 160 reconstruction architecture firms
Top 105 reconstruction engineering firms
Top 115 reconstruction construction firms
Balfour Beatty collaborated with architect Lyman Davidson Dooley to implement Lean construction and offsite fabrication of the building’s exterior wall panels. “In a span of 25 working days, we clad the whole exterior, using a third of the workforce required by traditional construction,” says Mike Macon, VP and Business Unit Leader at Balfour Beatty.
Shuttered retail spaces are also ripe for redevelopment. A former Borders bookstore in Omaha, Neb., was transformed into Do Space, a digital library and community education center. HDR worked with civic leaders to explore the library-of-the-future concept. “It’s a community information hub, providing technology access to everyone for free,” says HDR Design Principal David Lempke, AIA.
SEE ALL 2017 GIANTS 300 RANKINGS
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2024
Top 80 Office Core and Shell Engineering Firms for 2023
Jacobs, WSP, Alfa Tech Consulting Engineers, Thornton Tomasetti, and Burns & McDonnell top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office core and shell engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2024
Top 140 Office Core and Shell Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, Stantec, Page Southerland Page, Perkins&Will, and NBBJ top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office core and shell architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2024
Top 80 Workplace Interior Construction Firms for 2023
STO Building Group, HITT Contracting, Clune Construction, Hensel Phelps, and JRM Construction Management top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest workplace interior and interior fitout general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2024
Top 50 Workplace Interior Engineering Firms for 2023
AECOM, Jacobs, Alfa Tech Consulting Engineers, Tetra Tech High Performance Buildings Group, and IMEG top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest workplace interior and interior fitout engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2024
Top 160 Workplace Interior Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, Interior Architects, HOK, SmithGroup, and Perkins&Will top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest workplace interior and interior fitout architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2024
Top 100 Office Core and Shell Construction Firms for 2023
Turner Construction, AECOM, DPR Construction, Clark Group, and Clayco top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office core and shell general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024
Top 45 Parking Structure Engineering Firms for 2023
Walker Consultants, Kimley-Horn, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers, and Walter P Moore head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest parking structure engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024
Top 55 Parking Structure Construction Firms for 2023
PCL Construction Enterprises, Swinerton, Bomel Construction, McCarthy Holdings, and Alberici-Flintco top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest parking structure general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024
Top 60 Parking Structure Architecture Firms for 2023
Choate Parking Consultants, Page Southerland Page, Gensler, AO, and Elkus Manfredi Architects top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest parking structure architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024
Top 70 Medical Office Building Construction Firms for 2023
PCL Construction Enterprises, Swinerton, Skanska USA, Clark Group, and Hensel Phelps top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest medical office building general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
