expertise > Repositioning
Eaton House a repositioned historic building

Repositioning

The repositioning of an existing building is an increasingly popular strategic approach to adding significant value to a given property - whether the intention is to retain or attract new tenants or accommodate different uses. According to the 2022 AIA Firm Survey Report, 48% of the profession’s current design work involves the reconstruction of existing buildings, reflecting a substantial increase from 34% in 2005. Compared to new construction, the repositioning of existing projects can be more attractive to building owners and developers for not only their potential to achieve sustainable decarbonization goals but also for offering shorter permitting and project delivery times as well as minimizing disruption to the neighborhood. In reimaging an existing building, potential considerations can include engaging an expanded audience, modernization of its design and infrastructure, and providing alternative uses for currently inactive spaces.

As post-pandemic city centers evolve and begin to redefine themselves, existing assets can be repositioned to ideally be more suited to the specific urban fabric of their neighborhood. Expanding the uses or amenities of a building or creating adjacencies that complement each other are potential opportunities to create dynamic and active urban environments. For example, incorporating a healthcare center with a healthy-focused juice bar, wellness studio or gym creates a well-rounded destination. This diversity of uses fosters an animated and lively community and expands the site’s social activity level throughout the entire day and week.

Built campus allows for mobility and recreation

Buildings designed 50 or 100 years ago, while still sound, are often unable to meet the demands of the technological expectations of the modern tenant. Personal mobility and seamless access to technology are priorities in creating a modernized building to work, live and play. Design that encourages wellness and movement through open stairs, integrated greenspace and access to daylight are key interventions to providing healthy and inviting interior environments. The efficient modernization of infrastructure, mechanical systems and enclosure can augment indoor air quality and user comfort while assuring the building’s resilience and financial viability for generations.

The recent efforts to augment access to public transit, secure bike lanes, pedestrian-only streets and urban densification has begun to alleviate car traffic in cities across the country. With this cultural shift, parking areas within buildings have become underutilized spaces that can be optimally repurposed for modern uses. For owners and developers, the innovative repurposing of these parking areas can potentially accommodate immersive media spaces, data centers or new tenant amenities. Bike hubs, commuter lockers, concierge services, or ride-share drop-offs can be integrated into the arrival and departure experiences of these refreshed buildings to support the expectations of the next-generation of commuters.

Biker commutes in Kendall Square
Ample outdoor spaces designed by Pickard Chilton architects

Located in the Penn Quarter district, 600 Fifth Street NW comprises the complete repositioning and renovation of the existing eight-story building plus the addition of three new floors, creating unparalleled views across Judiciary Square to the US Capitol for tenants and visitors.

Located along the Königsallee, Düsseldorf’s preeminent retail and business address, Le Coeur sets a best-in-class standard for commercial office and retail space within this central business district.

Street view of the PG&E historic complex

Encompassing a full city block in downtown San Francisco between Market and Mission Street, the PG&E site comprises development components that include the 200 Mission office tower redevelopment, historic complex renovation and new 1.25-acre park to complete Hines’ vision. Upon completion, the reimagined projects will breathe new life into the entire transit-oriented block.

Proposed entry to 1633 Broadway, a multi-family development

For the 2023 edition of its popular annual design competition, Metals in Construction magazine invited participants to explore the conversion of a large outdated commercial office tower to an innovative residential use

Pickard Chilton’s award-winning building design for Northwestern Mutual’s Tower and Commons was completed in 2017. With nearly 2,000 employees transitioning in the coming years from their Franklin campus to downtown Milwaukee, the company wanted to welcome them with a facility comparable in quality and features to the Tower and Commons.

As such, Northwestern Mutual is undertaking the comprehensive renovation and upgrade of its North Office Building. By sustainably repurposing the existing foundations and tower structure, the design will minimize the project’s overall carbon footprint to deliver a larger yet more efficient and comfortable facility to best serve the needs and wellbeing of their employees and clients.

The exterior view of Eaton House located in Dublin, Ireland, designed with 1970 building’s concrete frame.

Located within a rich tapestry of residences, small businesses, parks, and embassies in Dublin’s historic D4 district, Eaton House is an adaptive reuse design that repositions the 1970 building’s concrete structure.

Pickard Chilton is proud to continue our partnership with Northwestern Mutual of their ambitious repositioning of their North Office building in downtown Milwaukee. This $500 million transformation is designed to enhance connectivity for employees and the community, bringing new life to a key part of the city. We’re excited to see this project unfold! 

Read more at Milwaukee Business Journal 

More than a year and a half after Northwestern Mutual announced plans to remodel a building and move almost 2,000 employees from Franklin to Downtown Milwaukee – and a year after that project got underway – NM offered a peek inside the work on Thursday.

Read more at OnMilwaukee 

Ample outdoor spaces designed by Pickard Chilton architects

The joint venture of Rockefeller Group and Stonebridge today joined Clark Construction and their building crews to celebrate the topping out of 600 Fifth Street NW, the only new office building under construction in Washington, D.C. that is set to deliver over the next two years.

The 400,000-square-foot building, which is 50 percent pre-leased, is taking shape on the site of the former eight-story Metro headquarters. Stonebridge and Rockefeller Group completed a 99-year ground lease with Metro in June 2023, and immediately broke ground on the $375 million project. 

The redesign was planned by the international design architect Pickard Chilton.

“600 Fifth Street delivers a compelling next-generation workplace while contributing to the vitality of this great city,” added Jon Pickard, FAIA, Principal at Pickard Chilton.

Read more at Morningstar 

Northwestern Mutual’s $500 million renovation of the North Office building has surpassed local business and resident contracting goals, according to a quarterly report written in April.

Gilbane Building Co. and C.G. Schmidt are leading interior and exterior renovations for the 540,000-square-foot North Office to mirror the Tower and Commons. Both buildings are on the insurance company’s campus in downtown Milwaukee. The project includes new connecting structures and a pedestrian plaza on Cass Street.

Read more at DailyReporter 

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