Adaptive Reuse Scorecard released to help developers assess project viability

Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC), a full-service architecture firm headquartered in Chicago, announced the debut of the firm’s Adaptive Reuse Scorecard, a proprietary methodology to quickly analyze the viability of converting vacant office and commercial buildings to other uses, such as hotels and residences.

“Working with existing structures involves complexities that often create a lengthy pre-development process, requiring developers to commit significant resources before they even determine a project is viable,” said Alan Barker, firm principal. “LJC’s Adaptive Reuse Scorecard enables us to assess a potential conversion project much more quickly and earlier in the process, something we anticipate will become even more important given conversations in the industry about the potential of adaptive reuse as a solution for the housing shortage and option for vacant commercial buildings.”

Developed by the firm’s architects, designers, engineers, and development and construction experts with experience in the nuances of adaptive reuse projects, the scorecard focuses on seven categories:

Development potential
Building form
Building systems such as elevator and heat/AC
Connectivity—walkability, parking and access to public transit
Amenities and sustainability
Building skin
Intangible factors, which include a building’s history, reputation and marketing potential

Adaptive Reuse Scorecard Metrics

A weighted score of one to 100 is assigned to each of these categories, which are then averaged to determine a building’s suitability for adaptive reuse. Projects with a total score above 70% are considered viable candidates for conversion.

Adaptive Reuse Scorecard Primer — As an introduction to its proprietary Adaptive Reuse Scorecard, Lamar Johnson Collaborative has created a primer to explain the key considerations of adaptive reuse. Graphic courtesy Lamar Johnson Collaborative

“As a subsidiary of Clayco, LJC is able to tap the expertise of our partner companies to generate insights about a potential project’s design, engineering, construction, glazing system and other factors to quickly create an integrated assessment of a building’s suitability for adaptive reuse,” Barker said. “Given the inherent unpredictability in adaptive reuse projects, clients benefit from this methodology because it provides flexibility, encourages innovation, and enables us to address unforeseen conditions as they arise.”

After further refinement to finalize the design and budget concepts—and with client signoff—the design, engineering, and preconstruction process begins.

With its scorecard beta testing complete using a sampling of buildings in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas, the firm looks forward to working with developers in cities across the country on adaptive reuse candidates. “We anticipate there will be a growing volume of this type of work, and the scorecard will undoubtedly help us to quickly evaluate projects and select those that pencil out financially for our clients,” Barker said.

Firms interested in having a potential conversion project analyzed by LJC using its Adaptive Reuse Scorecard should contact adaptivereuse@theljc.com .

About Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) is a Chicago-based full-service design and architecture firm that provides integrated delivery and full turnkey solutions across multiple industries. LJC’s services include architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, planning and urban design, sustainability and technical/quality assurance. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayco, a full-service, real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm. Though LJC works closely with companies in the Clayco family of brands, more than half of its business is with outside developers and general contractors.