Adaptive reuse

Do we like to partner with socially conscientious brands that are raising the bar in the retail industry? Yes, we do. Everlane, known for exceptional quality, ethical factories, and radical transparency, has begun to selectively open more brick-and-mortar locations. When invited to work with their team on several new retail stores, our response was, “when do we begin?” Caption Initially brought on as Architect of Record, we also collaborated with Everlane on design decisions, executing their brand identity and aesthetic at new locations in Seattle and Georgetown. While there is recognizable brand consistency at every store, aspects of each location are also woven into the experiences. Both stores, for instance, were uniqu... More

With Modera Lofts, Mill Creek didn’t just restore a century old brick distribution building that served Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. With a keen eye for preservation and adaptive reuse, they preserved and incorporated many of the items rescued from its days as a distribution hub for Butler Brothers. Caption In addition to an opened and modernized interior highlighting the brick and thick wood beam construction, Mill Creek added a world class roof deck for tenants to enjoy the spectacular views of Manhattan across the river. The entire roof of this historic structure was redemised into dining areas, a sports field, and outdoor cinema, with plenty more space for lounging in the sun or having sunset drinks. Caption... More

How adaptive reuse and urban wilderness contribute to the reanimation of a wasteland and protect the climate at the same time.  smartvoll It should be clear by now that the construction industry has a significant share of responsibility for climate change. Starting with soil sealing, to the enormous sand consumption in cement production or the CO2 emissions in concrete production. The impact of construction on the climate will increase in the coming decades if, as demographic studies predict, more and more people are going to live in cities. New strategies are therefore needed for the sensible re-use of already sealed industrial areas that have lost their original use. Paradoxically, industrial wastelands are also the epitom... More

Swiss architecture and design studio Evolution Design has converted the former Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) printing centre into a dynamic multi-use hub with offices, coworking spaces, event venues, and leisure facilities known as JED. The 36,000 square metre building, owned and developed by Swiss Prime Site, is located in Schlieren: one of Switzerland’s emerging start-up areas. Evolution Design / Peter Wuermli Evolution Design / Peter Wuermli Creating a community The core idea of JED (standing for “join”, “explore” and “dare”) was to establish a new business environment for creative collaboration, networking and innovation. «JED brings together medium-sized companies from biote... More

Planet Word features three floors of interactive galleries and exhibits to engage visitors of all ages in experiencing words and language from a wide range of perspectives. BBB oversaw the preservation and rehabilitation of the Renaissance Revival building designed by Adolf Cluss, which is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Opened in 1869 as the cornerstone of a comprehensive system of segregated education for the city of Washington, the school was chosen to house Planet Word for its rich history in public education and historic connection to the museum's mission. It was here that Alexander Graham Bell made the first wireless transmission of the human voice — words — using a Photophone, a precursor to fiber-optic techno... More

BBB’s design for the National Museum of American Diplomacy, located at the State Department Headquarters in Washington DC, features interactive technologies that support real-time connections with embassies and exhibits throughout the world. Visitors will be welcomed into a grand 15,400 SF entry lobby that opens into an exhibition pavilion and gallery spaces. The design also includes a theater, classrooms, gift shops, museum support spaces, security screening, and climate control systems for the collections. The next phase of the project, which totals approximately 20,000 SF, will include additional museum spaces and will restore much of the historic lobby of the Marshall Building. MediaGeez - Garland Gray   More

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is housed in several historic brick industrial buildings along the Norwalk River and adjacent to the vibrant South Norwalk downtown historic district. BBB was engaged to design several new additions and renovation projects in response to the replacement of an aging railroad bridge that previously bisected the Aquarium campus. Building additions will utilize previously unoccupied portions of the Aquarium site, located away from the bridge construction area, and will improve and modernize the Aquarium’s facilities and exhibits. The contemporary design of the additions, emphasizing transparency and light, is an intentional contrast to the heavy brick walls of the existing buildings while also complementin... More

Winthrop House, comprised of two Neo-Georgian former freshman dormitory buildings from 1913, had undergone few upgrades since its construction. The renewal program re-envisioned Winthrop’s residential, academic, social, and co-curricular spaces and addresses technical challenges, including significant envelope upgrades, the installation of all-new mechanical systems, and detailed restoration work for the House’s signature public spaces. Amidst the sensitive context of Harvard’s River Houses, BBB also designed Robert M. Beren Hall, a distinctive 41-bed addition that includes shared amenities for undergraduates. Working with the House Renewal Project Management Office, Faculty of Arts & Sciences, the Faculty Deans, and s... More

An abandoned former war period sports building (constructed in 1940’s) was never intended to be renovated. Real estate developers thought of demolishing it as no one would imagine making anything useful out of it. However, the client bought the site and decided to turn the 'useless' building into a private villa.  Tim Van De Velde Converting this space into a livable environment presented a special challenge and made this project a unique experience.  The work started by dismantling the original structure. An inspirational moment came when walls and ceiling were stripped bare and the raw beauty of the original materials was revealed, which in combination with the vast space filled with light presented a great point of... More

Situated in a 1950s-era, single-story building on Main Street in downtown Edmonds, Leftcraft is casual and approachable, yet distinct from local restaurant and bar establishments. Rich materiality and an embrace of time-worn patina set the venue apart from other establishments in town. The latest in a series of restaurants developed by the same owner, Leftcraft evolves the exploration of themes established in the most recent iteration. Here, the design explores and plays with themes of materiality, color, and texture and the contrast between new and old.   The infill building, modified at various times during its existence, features concrete walls and floors and a tongue-and-groove Douglas fir ceiling, all of which were cleaned and le... More

The abandoned industrial zone in the center of the city of Zagreb has occupied for decades the spaces that now give us the opportunity for the first systematic town planning after a long time.  The zone extends between Branimirova and Vukovarska streets and the railway and bus station. This area of 45 hectares is one of the most important spatial potentials of the City of Zagreb, only a 15-minute walk from the centre. For comparison, this area is twice the size of the Old City of Dubrovnik. The reconstruction of the Gredelj zone is an opportunity to solve one of the biggest urban problems in Zagreb, which is the disconnection between the north and the south. Because of the railway tracks these two parts of the city are connected at o... More

The concept was “1920’s New York-style speakeasy,” with a wooden bar, exposed brick walls, old tiles in the washrooms, and a classic decorative ceiling.  The solutions that brought it to life ranged from metal panels salvaged from a burnt building to brand new Ceilume thermoformed ceiling tiles that offer a vintage look with modern convenience.   The Little Jumbo Restaurant started as the fulfillment of a long-held dream.  Australian star-bartender Shawn Soole had often talked about opening his own cocktail bar.  His friend, Sara Baxter, owner and principal designer of Live By Design (Vancouver, BC), partnered with him make that a reality.   The location is an historic structure, The Pacific Tr... More

In the 1850s, Chicago was considered the grain capital of the world. The mill and silo buildings, located primarily within the Fulton Market neighborhoods, are a direct reflection of Chicago’s wheat industry heritage, one of the major industries upon which the city was built. In recent years, as Fulton Market has become more trendy with the opening of new bars, restaurants, residences and offices, many of the protected historic buildings have been renovated. Unprotected historic buildings beyond the district boundaries, however, are routinely threatened with demolition. One such example was a 250,000-square-foot mill factory, which spanned a 2.2-acre site and included a series of brick loft buildings ranging from three to six stories... More