Transforming Old Frameworks Into New Civic Life | Bachelors Design Project on Adaptive Reuse

Site Context

The site is a former federal parking structure with frontage on three streets: Centre Street, Howard Street, and Lafayette Street. Along Howard Street, the structure consists of four 22-foot-wide bays, while the Centre Street side features six 20-foot-wide bays. On Lafayette Street, a blind masonry wall sits 18 feet back from the sidewalk, creating a leftover paved area with a small construction in the corner.

The building sits at the intersection of three neighborhoods—Little Italy, Chinatown, and SoHo. Although commercial development is increasingly encroaching on the area, many long-standing Chinese and Italian businesses still operate nearby. Adjacent to the site is the Museum of Chinese in America, adding cultural significance to the location.

Design Process

This project was informed by two primary precedents: Le Fresnoy, for its innovative strategy in adaptive reuse, and NP2F’s Cathédrale des Sports, for its spatial organization and circulation within a recreational facility.

Building on insights from these studies, Le Corbusier’s Maison Dom-Ino served as a conceptual model to investigate open structural systems. This model was then tailored to the site’s specific conditions, integrating precedent-driven approaches to address circulation, programmatic layout, and contextual challenges.

Final Outcome

A continuous roof structure unifies the transformation of the former parking facility, introducing new civic programs while retaining elements of its original use. Drawing inspiration from Bernard Tschumi’s Le Fresnoy, a central staircase choreographs movement through the building—moving swiftly through private areas and decelerating at public zones to foster moments of interaction and reflection. 

Elevated exterior walkways lead visitors through a curated spatial sequence, while the preserved parking area grounds the project within its urban setting, striking a balance between adaptive reuse and respect for the existing framework.

Conclusion: Through careful integration of circulation, program, and context, the design fosters community engagement while honoring the site’s layered history. The result is a spatial framework that supports public life, rooted in continuity and transformation.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]