Chapter 5
#1: Adaptive Reuse!
Background for the Educator: Adaptive reuse is the process of reusing an old building for another use. Here’s an example: the Spot on Shelburne Road used to be a 1950s gas station. It was renovated into a restaurant after its original use was not longer economically viable. Many, many historic homes in Burlington have been converted into apartments.
Adaptive reuse is important for two reasons: it preserves historic buildings and the character of communities, and it also is sustainable and important for land conservation and the environment. It’s much kinder on the environment and reduces energy costs to reuse an old building, rather than demolish it and make a new building.