Defining Adaptive Reuse & Redevelopment

Adaptive reuse is the process of reusing an old building or site for a new purpose. Often, these buildings have a noted durability as well as, historic significance. As part of the Sustainable movement, adaptive reuse is seen as an effective way to "recycle" these old buildings, rather than demolishing them. With advancing technology and the absence in the U.S. of manufacturing needs, large manufacturing facilities have been abandoned. These facilities along with obsolete schools and churches, have provided new challenges in adaptive reuse. Further, adaptive reuse as seen as and answer to land conservation, specifically, in the case of brownfield reclamation.