Perkins Eastman Publishes Findings on the Benefits of Converting Commercial Spaces to Educational Environments

New York – Perkins Eastman has recently published a new white paper, “Commercial Conversion: Adaptive Reuse, A Catalyst for Educational Innovation.” The paper’s authors examine the unique opportunities that former commercial, industrial, and even retail properties can offer school districts, education providers, and their communities—as demand for convenient, safe, and healthy environments that also support the latest in educational technology, pedagogy, and achievement standards outpace traditional supply or means in many communities across the country.

The goal of the study was to examine whether the adaptive reuse and conversion of commercial properties for educational use provide a solution that educators need and ignite a broader remedy for the rapid obsolescence and creeping blight of the separated-use commercial landscape.

While adaptive reuse of commercial buildings is far from novel, the strategy is becoming a more established option for educational program space. As the number of underperforming commercial properties increases, so, too, do Americans’ acceptance of differentiated instruction, recognition of the success of unconventional pedagogies, and comfort with educational innovation. As a result, the authors posit, there is greater diversity in the scholastic environment and an expanding realm of possibilities.

Citing shifting community and economic conditions, the authors demonstrate through a series of case studies that adaptive reuse of commercial properties in particular is a viable strategy to achieve state-of-the-art educational facilities that are cost-effective, responsive to changing pedagogies, environmentally responsible, and also reflect shifting lifestyle preferences of young families.

Culled from Perkins Eastman’s recent K-12 portfolio, the case studies represent urban and suburban, high density and low density, and former commercial spaces, including a landmarked warehouse, call centers, corporate headquarters, and floors in an office tower. The projects are located in Dallas, Texas; Fremont, California; McLean, Virginia; New York, New York; and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Together, the case studies demonstrate the rich possibility embodied within these existing assets and suggest that commercial reuse is not a compromised solution but rather a beneficial, and potentially transformational, development scenario that can positively impact local development. 

“Commercial Conversion: Adaptive Reuse, A Catalyst for Educational Innovation” is available for download at perkinseastman.com/white_papers.

Featured

  • MiEN Releases White Paper on Community College Space Innovation

    MiEN Company recently released a new white paper called “Designing New Innovative Spaces for Community Colleges” to address the needs of community colleges post-pandemic, according to a news release. The eight-page guide by Dr. Christina Counts, MiEN Company VP of Education and Marketing, covers topics like the enrollment drop that these schools have seen since COVID-19, the roles they play in higher education and local workforces, and five suggested key changes that can improve students’ experiences.

  • New Jersey PreK–12 School Breaks Ground on New STEM Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently announced that it has broken ground on the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the design of the new facility, which will provide the school with space to expand its STEM and business education classes.

  • University of Connecticut Upgrades Basketball Facility’s AV Systems

    The University of Connecticut recently partnered with Metinteractive to upgrade the AV systems of the Gampel Pavilion basketball facility on its campus in Mansfield, Conn., according to a news release.

  • Fellowes Launches New Textile Collection

    Fellowes Contract Interiors recently partnered with Momentum Textiles & Wallcoverings to launch a new line of high-end-design, cost-effective textiles, according to a news release. Part of Momentum Textiles’ Kickstart collection, the new selection offers high-quality and versatile textiles for both smaller budgets and the early design phase of larger projects.