4 Inspiring Adaptive Reuse Projects With Real Impact

Awards
Published
Chronicle Mill
Chronicle Mill in Belmont, N.C. Photo courtesy of Tim Buchanan/Easterday Creative
Chicago Tribune
Tribune Tower Conversion in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Dave Burk Photography
Peabody School
Peabody School Apartments in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Darris Lee Harris Photography
A and Indiana
A & Indiana in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Taylor Photo

Perhaps the ultimate form of sustainability is imagining new uses for obsolete, distressed, or abandoned buildings. Honoring the past while giving new life to a structure — and with it, often an entire neighborhood — requires creative thinking to successfully meld modern codes with preservation goals. These four adaptive reuse projects, all 2023 Best in American Living Award winners, exemplify that mission and spirit:

See the full article, including before-and-after images and site plans, in the latest issue of Pro Builder magazine.

Visit bestinamericanliving.com to learn more about these and other 2023 winners.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Fall Leadership Meeting
Oct 26, 2026
Watch Video Highlights from 2026 Fall Leadership Meeting

NAHB members who were unable to join us in Detroit for the 2026 Fall Leadership Meeting can watch some of the highlights on nahb.org.

Economics
Oct 23, 2026
Multifamily Developers: How Are Rising Costs Impacting Your Business?

In 2022, NAHB estimated regulation accounts for over 40% of the cost of a new multifamily development — a key data point in lobbying federal, state and local policymakers against policies that drive up the cost of new housing. This widely cited estimate is now outdated, so NAHB is conducting a survey to update it and needs your help to do so.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Oct 26, 2026
Uptick for Non-Conventional Financing in 2025

Nationwide, the share of non-conventional financing for new home sales accounted for 32.4% of the market, according to NAHB analysis of the 2025 Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC) data.

Economics
Oct 23, 2026
A Quarter of Remodelers Started ADUs Over Past Twelve Months

When asked if remodelers started a project involving an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) over the past twelve months, 24% indicated that they were building an addition for use as an ADU and 23% indicated that they were converting an existing space to an ADU, according to NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI).

Economics
Oct 23, 2026
Slabs Overtake Basements in the East North Central Division

Nearly three-quarters of new single-family homes started in 2025 were built on slab foundations, according to NAHB analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).