Pros and Cons of Universities Repurposing Historical Assets

Ryan: “Given the resurgence of urban-infill development and experiential retail as drivers to economic development in downtown settings, historic adaptive reuse is on an exciting upswing.”

IRVINE, CA—Sometimes it’s cost effective for universities to repurpose an existing historical structure versus starting from scratch, but it’s not easy; it takes research and expertise to make sure that its done properly, Ken Ryan, principal and head of KTGY Architecture + Planning’s Community Planning and Urban Design Studio, tells GlobeSt.com. As we recently reported, the City of Orange has approved the development of a 402-bed student-housing building for upperclassmen and adaptive reuse of a local historic asset for use as a museum and student-services center for Chapman University. The project, owned and developed by Chapman University, will utilize the Villa Park Orchards Association Packing House, a historic resource in Old Towne Orange.

We spoke with Ryan about why it makes sense for universities to repurpose historic assets in this way, what the drawbacks are and the challenges that need to be overcome in the design and development phase.