Transforming older commercial buildings for residential use can be a fairly straightforward endeavor.
Office buildings built after 1960, however, present more challenges, and if a trend to convert these spaces to condos and apartments gathers steam, a rethinking of regulations will be required, say John Cetra, cofounder at New York-based architecture firm CetraRuddy, in a GlobeSt report. Developers and architects will have to be particularly creative in redesigning larger buildings for residential use.
Because the plates are much deeper in large post-1960s office building, there are long spaces where an apartment would be 50 feet in depth from the window. So, the distance between the windows and walls might have to be changed to make up for the ventilation that would have come through a window.
HVAC zoning would likely have to be readjusted, particularly in a post-COVID world with more concern over maintaining healthy indoor air quality. Interior spaces would have to be re-zoned to maintain a higher level of fresh air.
The large floor layouts mean that small studio apartments would have to be very narrow and deep. This will reduce the potential for daylighting.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2018
Plan advances in Los Angeles for Climate Emergency Mobilization Department
Would oversee efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the city.
Codes and Standards | May 3, 2018
Data collection, machine learning boost building efficiency
Sensors, software algorithms squeeze out waste.
Codes and Standards | May 2, 2018
Energy Department releases Updated EnergyPlus and OpenStudio building energy modeling tools
The tools can now accept input in epJSON format.
Codes and Standards | May 1, 2018
ASHRAE publishes new energy simulation-aided design standard
Requires building energy modeling during schematic design.
Codes and Standards | Apr 30, 2018
CALGreen projects pre-approved for streamlined LEED v4 requirements
Reduces need to run additional energy models.
Codes and Standards | Apr 26, 2018
New standard supports community resilience
ASTM International guidance supports cost-effective ways to withstand and recover from disasters.
Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2018
Lessons learned from decades of Superfund cleanups guide contaminated land reuse
Sites repurposed for residential, commercial use, and solar energy generation.
Codes and Standards | Apr 24, 2018
Vibrant downtown core the key for urban multifamily development
Nighttime activity makes the difference.
Codes and Standards | Apr 19, 2018
ILFI launches new Zero Carbon Certification
Offers greater flexibility around project fuel types and offsetting renewables.
Codes and Standards | Apr 18, 2018
New Green Globe pilot program launched
Precursor to revised Green Globes Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings.
