HOW TO RENOVATE A BUILDING & PRESERVE ITS HISTORY

CITIES ROOTED IN CULTURE

When renovating old buildings, developers should be careful not to damage or destroy the unique features that define historic

properties.

Historic BuildingsFor every building, old and new, cultural complexity is signified by location and architectural design. As the years progress, buildings remain as markers of history, defining communities and keeping cities rooted to their past. When renovating old buildings, developers should be careful not to damage or destroy the unique features that define historic properties. This can be tricky, especially when buildings need structural updates or worse, total gutting, to adhere to modern standards of functionality. Renovation requires patience, attention to detail, and a reconciliation between modern conveniences and authenticity. It’s a delicate balance, and one that should be respected if developers want to preserve their properties’ heritage.

There are numerous benefits to renovating older buildings; more urgently, if the building qualifies as historic, its preservation may be legally mandated. When an existing infrastructure can be repurposed, it saves money and energy that would otherwise go into demolition and reconstruction. If the property qualifies as historic, its renovation may also come with tax incentives.Repurposing older buildings also speeds up potential occupancy, since the framework for residency only needs updates instead of a complete reconstruction. The character and charm of such properties are worth preserving not only for their great value, but for their mass appeal to pedestrians, tenants and businesses.

WHY RENOVATE?

After a thorough evaluation comes extensive maintenance and repair. If done right, this will prevent deterioration of historic elements over time. Steps include rust removal, caulking, re-application of paint, and repairing features with as little interference as possible. Character-defining features can be repaired through patching, splicing, consolidating and other methods.

The renovation of old buildings, in the end, depends on a property’s specific history and the needs the space has to meet in the future. It’s a delicate but worthwhile process that comes with a bounty of benefits for all parties involved. With smart preservation, developers can expand and augment a property’s historically rich legacy, all while keeping the stories of its stories strong and timeless.