Cracking the Code on Adaptive Reuse

The desire to live in an urban environment is still on the rise and with little or no free land on which to build, developers are looking at existing buildings that can be re-purposed for other uses.  The process of reconfiguring a building for another use is referred to as adaptive reuse. While this can be a valid option for saving some of our obsolete or historical structures, it does present its own variety of challenges including those related to building codes. In recent years, new and ever complicating codes have forced developers and property owners to teeter precariously between the minimal requirements for existing buildings and the level of functionality, safety and attractiveness found in new construction.

What are some code issues that can be encountered?