Adaptive Use of Schools |
Adaptive use is the process of transforming existing structures to meet new needs. By this process, historical and community connections remain in tact; while a building's function maintains pace with the new dynamic of its environment. Adaptive use is associated with historic preservation since each is concerned with the salvage and maintenance of important buildings. The result is a lasting heritage and functional centerpieces of community life. The historic quality of an environment progresses with growth and technology. The field of adaptive use has grown significantly in the last decade as funds for new development have become scarce. Recycling older buildings often provides an economic advantage in reduced infrastructure cost, such as roads, parking, water, sewer, and other services. Combined with the opportunity for identity making, adaptive reuse makes best use of available resources. Historic school buildings are among the casualties of a developing technological age. As city centers continue to deteriorate with shifting residential patters and educational practices move to embrace technology, many schools have become obsolete. Often replaced by new buildings located beyond the city core and built to meet new demands for computer access: these buildings face and uncertain future. Important symbols of knowledge, stability, and community, school buildings are irreplaceable relics of the communities they serve. To destroy them or to allow them to deteriorate is physically and socially destructive to the identity of a place. Adaptive use of these buildings optimizes on the serviceability and the economics of these buildings, eliminating a problem for school districts who can not afford to maintain vacant buildings. Resources are increasingly available for private developers as well as communities who seek to maintain school buildings around the country. Educational Facilities Laboratories (EFL) is one such nonprofit organization who endeavors to find innovative uses for existing school structures. Congress has also shown its concern for vacant school buildings with ongoing legislation that would provide funding for renovation projects. The Surplus School Conservation Act provides HUD grants for qualifying communities for as much as 80 percent of renovation costs. Also, private developers are allowed to amortize costs of adapting school buildings over a 15 year period under the same legislation. School buildings follow a gernal arrangement of large classrooms opening into a wide central corridor. This configuration easily adapts to meet new uses that require many self-contained spaces. Offices, apartments, storage spaces, conference centers, and public meeting rooms fit well into many existing school buildings. By adapting school buildings to meet several of these needs allows for innovative mix-use opportunities that further the potential of making school buildings highly valued and easily adaptable structures. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 states "the spirit and direction of the nation are founded upon and reflected in it's historic past; and that the historical and cultural foundations of the nation should be preserved as a living part of the community, life, and developed in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people." (All About Buildings,1985) It was with this in mind that the former Moscow High School was adapted into a community center. This once obsolete building will now host a Science Center, Senior Center, Art Center, public meeting rooms, classrooms, and offices for the Moscow Parks and Recreation Dept. while contributing a sense of identity and perspective to the community.
By Justin |
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Figure 1: Resotred Building Entry. 1912 Center, Moscow, ID August 2002
Figure 2: Restored front facade and new courtyard, August 2002
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Adaptive Use of Buildings |
The 1912 Building:A good example of adaptive use of an old school building can be found in Moscow, Idaho. The old Moscow, Idaho high school is currently being remodeled and renovated into the city's community center. Rather than tearing down this beautiful historic 1912 building, the city has opted to renovate the building to better the community. The new community center will include the fallowing: a senior center, friendship hall, art center, science center, public meeting rooms, Moscow Parks and Recreation offices, and a heritage classroom. These will all prove to be valuable additions to the City of Moscow, through the years to come. The building is only a couple of blocks from the main central business district of downtown Moscow. This is good because its just off the downtown streets, and among residential houses of the community. Another great example of an adaptive use of buildings is Moscow, Idaho's City Hall. This building was first built in 1910 and was used as Moscow's Post Office. The buildings site is at 3rd and Washington. This is a great example of the cites history and architecture in the early 1900's. Preservation of this building is a direct result of the cites action back in the year 1900 when they passed an ordinance to protect and preserve older buildings around Moscow. On September 17, 1900, the Moscow City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 90-17 to create the Moscow Historical Preservation Commission. The purpose of this ordnance is to promote "the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public of the city of Moscow through the preservation and protection of building, sites, monuments, structures and areas of historic importance or interest within the city of Moscow; to protect and preserve the heritage of the city by preserving and regulating historic landmarks, properties that districts which reflect the elements of Moscow's cultural, social, economic, political, archeological, and architectural history; to preserve and enhance the environmental quality of Moscow's neighborhoods; to establish and improve property values; and to foster economic development."
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Figure #9-South West Corner.
Figure #10-Display of what's to come.
Figure #11-South Facade
Figure #12-South West corner
Figure #13-West Facade.
Figure #14-Remembering the old. |
