adaptive reuse

American  

[uh-dapt-iv-ree-yoos] / əˈdæpt ɪv riˈyus /

noun

adaptive reuses plural

1. the adaptation and reuse of existing buildings and other structures for new purposes, such as the renovation of office buildings to convert them into housing.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• adaptive reuses
  plural

Example Sentences

Categories include multifamily construction, affordable housing construction, affordable housing preservation and construction of adaptive reuse projects, such as turning empty commercial buildings into housing.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025

I’ve been really interested in adaptive reuse in general — the whole idea of rebuild, restore, repair.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

Plus, it “fulfills a key initiative outlined in the Mayor’s Downtown Activation Plan, showing a great example of adaptive reuse of retail space.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024

This adaptive reuse is part of a growing national trend: From Los Angeles to Nashville, developers are transforming clusters of old homes into walkable culinary hubs for the surrounding high-density neighborhoods.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2024

His 1962 proposal for adaptive reuse was revolutionary — and initially controversial.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2023