Stewart Brand wrote, “All buildings are predictions. All predictions are wrong.” It’s tempting to think of buildings as unchanging, but the reality is quite opposite. Buildings change and evolve around the activities both inside and outside. The way we work, play and live changes faster than perhaps we are comfortable with, while building codes evolve to reflect society’s fickle priorities.
Building 1044 was constructed with the purpose of maintaining aircraft in the 1970’s. Fast-forward forty years later, and the owner requires office space and secure data storage, not for maintaining aircraft. Oh, and it all must to fit within the existing envelope. Don’t forget it needs to meet the latest code requirements for life safety and energy conservation. Good luck stuffing in all the ductwork for meeting the current standards for ventilation and indoor air quality.