Adaptive Reuse

Quadrangle has long championed the reinvention of buildings that might otherwise become landfill, seeing their potential to enhance the urban fabric and build stronger communities. Through a wide range of projects, we have taken a realistic approach to the challenges of repurposing existing structures. There are many priorities to balance as we apply our creative and technical skills, including the demand for in-depth research, our need to thoroughly evaluate a structure’s “bones”, and the inevitable budgeting and scheduling constraints. All projects begin with an extensive site investigation, along with a review of current codes and heritage requirements, to determine the complexity of a possible intervention. We are equally experienced in adapting vacant structures and repurposing buildings that continue to operate during construction – often pushing technical and creative boundaries as we manage the complexities through multiple phases. Above all, our approach balances a respect for what came before with the desire to test current assumptions around what is possible, as we strive for inspired solutions that add value to a building and its surrounding neighbourhood.