Barriers to Adaptive Reuse

     Although there are several potential advantages to adaptive reuse for certain projects, there are also significant barriers that must be overcome to ensure the success of adaptive reuse projects.

Some barriers may be common to many projects, while other issues will be project specific.  Due to the age of many buildings, a host of environmental, building code, zoning and possibly even structural concerns can add significant costs to a project and be significant impediments to reuse.  

     Environmental Concerns:  Existing buildings and sites often have environmental concerns.  For example, structures built between the mid-1920's and the mid-1970's may contain aesbestos or lead paint that must be abated as part of a renovation.  Even buildings constructed before the 1920's may contain aesbestos materials that were added as part of later renovations.  Also, many older buildings contain underground fuel storage tanks that were utilized to power oldboiler systems.  These fuels oil tanks did not commonly leak, but such tanks needto be removed and the site verified to be "clean," before adapative reuse can be completed.

Building Code Issues:  Building codes have typically changed several times since most existing buildings were originally constructed.  It is not unusual for existing stairwells, exits, parking, electrical systems and other items to not be in compliance with current codes a d zoning ordinances. Depending on the terms and treatment of the proposed adaptive reuse, theses issues may need to be addressed to bring the building "up to code."  In other situations, such as where a building may qualify for historical preservation treatment, the building may be "grandfathered," so that some code variance may be acceptable and not require remediation.

     Potential Structural Issues:  Changes in building uses can lead to structural concerns if the new uses have higher structural load requirements than the original building structure was designed to accomodate.  This may limit potential resuses of the building or call for creative re-engineeering to reinformce parts of the building to allow for the desired adaptaion at an increase cost.   Additionally, age may have led to the deterioration of certain structural systems or elements in the building, thus requiring their repair or replacement as part of the adaptive use process.