Repurposing Sacred Spaces: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Adaptive Reuse

This panel convenes leading experts to explore innovative adaptive reuse strategies for underutilized faith-based buildings across the United States. Hear from several different perspectives on the critical challenges faced by institutions that are closing or falling into disrepair, in both rural and urban contexts. Discussions will range from the complexities of leveraging historic tax credits to offset developer costs, to how to navigate SEC approval and conversion processes. This session is designed for architects seeking practical, innovative strategies to transform faith structures into vibrant new community assets.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the key challenges associated with the adaptive reuse of urban faith-based institutions, particularly those facing closure or disrepair.
• 
  Evaluate the role and complexities of utilizing historic tax credits to offset developer costs in adaptive reuse projects, including navigating SEC approval and conversion processes.
• 
  Compare and contrast adaptive reuse strategies and considerations for faith-based buildings and their diverse communities in both urban and rural settings.
• 
  Identify strategies for meeting historic preservation requirements and design standards when repurposing faith-based structures in urban and smaller cities.