It’s no secret that the South Florida area is booming. As the post-Covid economy continues to shift and settle, Miami maintains an influx of blue-chip companies and the job market continues to grow, with unemployment rates falling in reaction to such changes. Questions regarding office space are on the rise, with affordable real estate and amenities becoming more scarce. Sources state that office rental rates continue to rise from 2022 and new construction options come with a hefty price tag due to many factors, including the soaring price of building materials.

Outside of a financial conversation, McKenzie has and continues to address such issues in a more sustainable fashion. Adaptive reuse, a technique that repurposes and restores preexisting work to fulfill a new and current purpose, has found its way into several of our projects, including our very own headquarters. Our custom millwork shop and office space were converted from an old plumbing warehouse that was once a center-point for the industrial Allapattah neighborhood.

As Wynwood continues to expand, filling in the blanks with vibrant businesses, restaurants, and dynamic night life, we collaborated with Shulman & Associates in 2013 to move the famed Miami Ad School to its current repurposed warehouse location.

The mechanics of repurposing a space provide a unique set of challenges in the construction process, but also allow us to find new life in these pre-existing buildings and promote a level of ingenuity and design when synthesizing such projects. Reusing the warehouse space for the Miami Ad School is a perfect example of transforming such abundant urban resources to address more current needs while also reducing environmental impact and creating a more sustainable cityscape.

Looking forward, McKenzie continues to take on such projects. Our work in Miami’s MiMo District to create a multi-dimensional community building out of a former unused worship space is bringing new opportunities to the area on multiple fronts. Our project managers have worked with the ownership to convert the building into a dynamic, adaptable location, allowing musicians, speakers, and a variety of events to utilize their office space, industry grade kitchen area, and converted sanctuary for a multitude of functions.

What has been regarded in the past as a sustainability and preservation method is now becoming a necessary measure in Miami’s expanding industry landscape. As the cost of materials continues to increase and developers lack new land for urban building projects, adaptive reuse becomes an attractive alternative for many reasons. Not only does it preserve the historic integrity of structures found in many of Miami’s diverse neighborhoods, but it is largely regarded as more cost-effective and increases the appeal of an area due to the unique outcomes it produces. The recent pandemic also accelerated the trend of many industries reducing their physical presence by moving online. With many banks becoming solely internet-based and department stores shifting their focus to their online audience, new opportunities arise for the reuse of these once-highly trafficked spaces. At McKenzie, we continue to support such initiatives, not only as interesting and unique design challenges, but in stride with our larger mission to support sustainable building practices in the South Florida area.

Sources:

Bandell, Brian. “Real Estate Reimagined.” Bizjournals.com, South Florida Business Journal, 2023, www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2022/03/10/adaptive-reuse-new-life-old-buildings.html. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.
Maister, Philippa. “Miami Offices Defy National Trends.” GlobeSt, ALM Global, LLC, 12 June 2023, www.globest.com/2023/06/12/miami-offices-defy-national-trends/?slreturn=20230813144411#:~:text=Colliers. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.
Ostrowski, Jeff. “Mixed Signals: Amid Economic Boom, South Florida Population Shrinks.” Commercial Observer, 11 Aug. 2023, commercialobserver.com/2023/08/mixed-signals-amid-economic-boom-south-florida-population-shrinks/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.

Adaptive Reuse in the South Florida Urban Landscape

GREEN BUILDING: The McKenzie Mission