What Adaptive Reuse Projects Have Taught Us as a Custom Bifold Door Manufacturer
Adaptive reuse is reshaping cities. Across North America, office towers, warehouses, hotels, and industrial buildings are being converted into multifamily housing and mixed-use communities. These projects create exciting opportunities for architects and developers—but they also introduce constraints that standard building systems rarely anticipate.
Working as a custom bifold door manufacturer on these types of projects, we’ve seen firsthand how conversion work differs from new construction.
Existing buildings rarely behave like blank canvases. Structural grids, deep wall assemblies, aging façade systems, and historic preservation requirements all shape what is possible. Openings that appear straightforward on paper often prove irregular or constrained once construction begins.
Because of this, adaptive reuse projects tend to shift the role of building products. Instead of simply selecting a standard system from a catalog, design teams often need components that can be engineered around existing conditions.
One of the recurring challenges we see involves activating existing building edges. Many older offices or industrial buildings were designed with sealed or limited openings on the ground floor. In residential conversions, however, developers increasingly want these areas to feel open and connected—to support amenities, shared spaces, or retail uses.
Large operable openings, including bifold systems, are sometimes used to help transform these previously closed façades into flexible indoor–outdoor environments. In practice, integrating these systems into existing structures often requires careful coordination between architects, engineers, and manufacturers.
Another observation from working in adaptive reuse is how much risk management influences specification decisions. Conversion projects already carry uncertainty related to structure, code compliance, and existing conditions. As a result, architects tend to rely heavily on manufacturers who can provide clear documentation and collaborate early in the design process.
Technical resources—BIM models, CAD details, performance data, and engineering consultation—often become just as important as the product itself. They help design teams evaluate feasibility before issues appear during construction.
We’ve also noticed that the most successful adaptive reuse projects tend to focus on reimagining how existing spaces function, rather than simply subdividing them into units. Daylight access, flexible amenity areas, and connections to the street or courtyard often become defining features of the redevelopment.
In those contexts, façade openings and operable systems can play a small but meaningful role in shaping how residents experience the building.
For manufacturers involved in adaptive reuse work, the takeaway is straightforward: these projects are less about selling products and more about understanding how new systems integrate with old buildings.
Every conversion is different. Existing structures come with their own geometry, materials, and history. Supporting those projects requires flexibility, collaboration, and a willingness to adapt systems to the realities of the building itself.
As adaptive reuse continues to grow in urban development, manufacturers that approach these projects with a problem-solving mindset will likely find themselves contributing not just components—but solutions—to the evolving built environment.
Adaptive Reuse in Major U.S. Metro Areas (2010–2026)
Key National Indicators
~25,000 apartments were completed through adaptive reuse in 2024 alone, the highest annual level on record.
This was 50% more than 2023 and roughly double the 2022 levels.
About 181,000 additional apartments are currently in the pipeline nationwide.
Hotels produced ~37% of converted units, offices about 24%, industrial ~20%, and schools ~8%.
1. Adaptive Reuse Apartments Completed by Year (U.S.)
Estimated totals based on national datasets.
Year Units Completed
2010 ~4,000
2012 ~6,000
2014 ~8,500
2016 ~10,000
2018 ~13,000
2020 ~12,000
2021 ~20,000
2022 ~12,000
2023 ~16,000
2024 ~24,700
2025–2026* ~25,000+ per year projected *Estimates based on pipeline and recent delivery pace. https://www.bdcnetwork.com/home/news/55165996/adaptive-reuse-report-shows-55k-impact-of-office-to-residential-conversions
2. Largest Metro Markets for Adaptive Reuse (Recent Deliveries)
Major metros leading apartment creation from conversions.
City / Metro (2024) Units Delivered
Chicago 880
Denver 789
Philadelphia 761
Dallas 698
Manhattan (NYC) 588
Houston 372
White Plains NY 468
These figures reflect large conversion projects completed in those markets.
3. Largest Metro Pipelines (2025–2026)
Projects in planning or construction.
Metro Area Units in Pipeline
New York City ~11,000
Los Angeles ~5,640
Chicago ~5,000
Washington DC ~6,500+
Philadelphia ~4,000+
Denver ~3,000+
Atlanta ~2,000+
Dallas ~2,000+
Office conversions dominate the future pipeline.
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4. Building Types Converted (2024 Share)
Type of Building % of Units
Hotels 37%
Offices 24%
Industrial 20%
Schools 8%
Other 11%
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Hotels and offices dominate because they already contain:
plumbing cores
repetitive floor plates
central urban locations.
MA massing diagram shows the modifications CetraRuddy made to the former office building. The architects cut two light wells through the building’s bulk. The subtracted area was then added to the top of the building. (Courtesy CetraRuddy) ake it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
8. Structural Trends Shaping Adaptive Reuse
1. Office Vacancy
Remote work left millions of square feet of unused office space.
2. Housing Shortage
Cities increasingly see conversions as a fast supply solution.
3. Public Incentives
Cities such as Chicago, Denver, and Washington DC now offer:
tax abatements
zoning changes
conversion grants.
Key Insight
Adaptive reuse has shifted from historic preservation projects in the early 2010s to large-scale office-to-residential redevelopment in the 2020s.
The next wave will likely concentrate in downtown office districts built between 1970–2000, which are increasingly obsolete but structurally adaptable.
Timeline: Adaptive Reuse Housing Boom
Units created via adaptive reuse (national estimate)
Year
Units Created
2010
1,300
2011
1,400
2012
2,000
2013
2,500
2014
3,100
2015
3,700
2016
4,400
2017
5,200
2018
3,900
2019
3,900
2020
12,000
2021
20,100
2022
18,000
2023
22,000
2024
30,000
2025
45,000 (pipeline deliveries)
2026
~70,000 pipeline
Metro Heat Map (Adaptive Reuse Activity)
Top metros by adaptive reuse multifamily units created or in the pipeline
Rank
Metro
Estimated Units (2010-2026)
Key Driver
1
New York
18,000+
office conversions
2
Washington DC
6,500+ pipeline
federal office surplus
3
Los Angeles
5,000+
DTLA adaptive reuse ordinance
4
Chicago
4,500+
historic loft conversions
5
Dallas
3,500+
downtown office towers
6
Houston
3,000+
office surplus
7
Philadelphia
2,800+
historic office conversions
8
Cleveland
2,200+
historic bank towers
9
Detroit
2,000+
industrial reuse
10
Minneapolis
1,800+
warehouse districts
11
Cincinnati
1,600+
office reuse
12
Pittsburgh
1,400+
historic office conversions
Cities like Manhattan, Dallas, and Houston have seen large tower conversions exceeding 300–600 units per building.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
