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 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 115 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2023
Stantec, HDR, Page, HOK, and Arcadis North America top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
2023 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
A record 552 AEC firms submitted data for BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, HKS, Perkins&Will, Corgan, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 9, 2023
New Giants 400 download: Get the complete at-a-glance 2022 Giants 400 rankings in Excel
See how your architecture, engineering, or construction firm stacks up against the nation's AEC Giants. For more than 45 years, the editors of Building Design+Construction have surveyed the largest AEC firms in the U.S./Canada to create the annual Giants 400 report. This year, a record 519 firms participated in the Giants 400 report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Reconstruction Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. building reconstruction and renovation sector
Gensler, Stantec, IPS, Alfa Tech, STO Building Group, and Turner Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest reconstruction sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Transit Facility Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. transit facility sector
Walsh Group, Skanska USA, HDR, Perkins and Will, and AECOM top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest transit facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Telecommunications Facility Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. telecommunications facility sector
AECOM, Alfa Tech, Kraus-Anderson, and Stantec head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest telecommunications facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Religious Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. religious facility construction sector
HOK, Parkhill, KPFF, Shawmut Design and Construction, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest religious facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Justice Facility Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. justice facility/public safety sector
Stantec, DLR Group, Turner Construction, STO Building Group, AECOM, and Dewberry top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms for justice facility/public safety buildings work, including correctional facilities, fire stations, jails, police stations, and prisons, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Parking Structure Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. parking structure sector
Choate Parking Consultants, Walker Consultants, Kimley-Horn, PCL, and Balfour Beatty top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest parking structure sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
