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 27, 2021
2021 Healthcare Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. healthcare facilities sector
HDR, AECOM, Turner Construction, and Brasfield & Gorrie head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest healthcare facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 27, 2021
2021 Office Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. office building sector
Gensler, Jacobs, Turner Construction, and STO Building Group head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest office building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.a
Giants 400 | Aug 26, 2021
2021 University Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the higher education sector
Gensler, AECOM, Turner Construction, and CannonDesign head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest university sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 26, 2021
2021 Data Center Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. data center facilities sector
Corgan, Holder Construction, Jacobs, and Whiting-Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest data center facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 26, 2021
Top 90 Construction Management + Project Management Firms for 2021
CBRE, Jacobs, Alfa Tech, and VCC head the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2021
Top 140 Contractors for 2021
Turner Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting, STO Building Group, and DPR Construction top the rankings of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2021
Top 40 Engineering/Architecture Firms for 2021
Jacobs, AECOM, Burns & McDonnell, and Alfa Tech top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2021
Top 75 Engineering Firms for 2021
Kimley-Horn, WSP, Terracon, Tetra Tech, and Langan head the rankings of the nation's largest engineering firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2021
Top 95 Architecture/Engineering Firms for 2021
Stantec, HDR, HOK, and SOM top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2021
Top 160 Architecture Firms for 2021
Gensler, Perkins and Will, HKS, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
