WALKING TOUR: Fort Worth Adaptive Reuse

January 12, 2013

Our class met with Bill Peterson and Geoff Reiner, architects at Jacobs Engineering.  They discussed adaptive reuse and as it relates to downtown Fort Worth.  Adaptive reuse is the process of adapting/reusing an existing building for a different purpose.  This process contributes to the preservation of greenspace, the lessening of sprawl, and the conservation of energy which is embodied in the existing structure.  Reusing existing buildings for new purposes is not only sustainable but the method also adds to a rich history and sense of place for the community.

We started off at Fire Station No.1, an example of an adaptive reuse.  The old firestation is now a museum, housing Fort Worth's 150 years of history.  Here we discussed the evolution of design and construction of the city's built environment.  At the beginning, the structures being built were simply a reaction to the elements.  They were made from the wood found locally, and were designed to best optimize natural lighting, ventilation, and shading.  As time went on, technology allowed for people to build with materials being transported in.  And as technology introduced even more durable materials and attractive building systems, such as air conditioning, the built environment became less and less sustainable.  Today, people are looking back at what has been built and are now asking the questions of how to be more sustainable, both with new construction and with the existing structures.  The current status of downtown Fort Worth is a mixture of old and new, with wide sidewalks to accomodate pedestrians.

Here is an interesting video on challenges, opportunities and benefits of adaptive reuse.