As cities evolve, the question isn’t whether we should repurpose what already exists, it’s how we can do it better. Adaptive reuse has become more than a trend; it’s a professional imperative that calls on architects to balance creativity, stewardship, and sustainability in every decision we make.

Join Dave Robar, AIA, and Erica Hillow, RA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, of Vocon (Cleveland), and Julie Apt, AIA, of Thomas Porter Architects (Toledo), for an engaging conversation on the realities and rewards of adaptive reuse. Drawing from projects both large and local, they’ll explore how thoughtful transformation of existing structures can breathe new life into communities, preserve history, and meet the demands of contemporary use, all while reducing environmental impact and maximizing long-term value.

Through real-world examples, this program will challenge us to think beyond preservation and toward purposeful reinvention: How do we design for the next century using the bones of the last one?

1 AIA LU HSW (pending)

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